Cartola

Angenor de Oliveira, known as Cartola (Portuguese for top hat), (Portuguese pronunciation: [kaʁˈtɔlɐ]; October 11, 1908 – November 30, 1980) was a Brazilian singer, composer and poet considered to be a major figure in the development of samba. Cartola got his name from the hat which he used to protect his hair while laying cement in his younger years as a brick layer. He helped to start the Estação primeira da Mangueira samba school in 1928. His work was popular throughout the 30s, he disappeared from the samba scene in the 40s until 1956. In 1964, together with his wife Zica, he opened a restaurant called Zicartola which featured live samba. In 1974 he began to record solo albums and in 1978 held his first solo live performance at age 70. Cartola composed, alone or with partners, more than 500 songs.