Carmen Costa

Carmen Costa was a Brazilian singer who started performing in Rio de Janeiro's nightclubs and samba schools. Her 1954 song 'Está Chegando a Hora' became something of a protest anthem, though the existing records don't specify exactly what it protested. She had a way of connecting with audiences that made her a familiar voice in Brazilian homes.

Her music sometimes ran into trouble with censors, likely because she sang about things like poverty and inequality. She kept recording anyway, and songs like 'Quase' and 'Tem Bobo Pra Tudo' became part of her catalog. She worked with Vinicius de Moraes and Toquinho at different points, which suggests she moved in certain musical circles.

By the time she was older, she was still performing. The existing biography mentions she inspired other musicians, but doesn't name them. Her recordings from the 1950s onward, including 'Baixa Limoeiro' and 'Eu Sou A Outra,' are what people still know her by.