Antônio Carlos & Jocáfi

• Name — Antônio Carlos & Jocáfi • Origin — Salvador, Bahia, Brazil • Genre — *Samba • Bossa nova • MPB • Years Active — 1969–present

Antonio Carlos Marques Pinto grew up in the neighborhood of Rio Vermelho, in Salvador; in a musical family; José Carlos Filho (Jocafi) grew up in Cosme de Farias neighborhood. They started their career as rivals playing in music festivals in Bahia. They were brought together as a duo by the pianist Carlos Lacerda and became known nationally in Brazil presenting in televised music festivals in Rio and São Paulo, such as the ones organized by TV Record. Several of their songs have become part of the soundtrack of telenovelas, such as Minha Doce Namorada, (1971), O Primeiro Amor (1972), and Cuca Legal (1975), including some as the opening theme. Songs such as "Você abusou" were made hits through the voice of Maria Creuza, who would later marry Antônio Carlos. That song was adapted into Spanish as "Usted abusó", made famous by Celia Cruz and Willie Colón, and French as "Fais comme l'oiseau", sung by Michel Fugain. Other successes include: "Jesuíno Galo-Doido", "Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos", "Desacato", "Toró de lágrimas", "Mas que doidice". Their sound incorporated influences from Afro-Brazilian music and Candomblé; critics of the time classified their sentimental, not politically engaged compositions with the term "sambão-joia". In 2022 they released the album Alto da Maravilha, featuring BaianaSystem's Russo Passapusso.