J Carlos

J Carlos was a Brazilian composer and singer born João Carlos de Oliveira in Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro in 1944. He formed a band called Os Cariocas in the mid-1960s, and they released their first album in 1969. The following year, he wrote and recorded 'Cantiga da Copa,' which became the official theme for the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

That song, with its upbeat melody and connection to Brazilian football, became his most recognizable work. He also recorded other songs like 'Escola da Vida' and 'A Merenda.' In the early 1970s, there were some accusations that the melody for 'Cantiga da Copa' was borrowed from a traditional Portuguese folk song, though the matter was eventually dropped.

J Carlos continued making music through the 1970s and 1980s, releasing albums like '14 Bis' and 'As Quatro Estações.' He died in 1999 at age 55.