Zé Matão e Carreirinho

Zé Matão and Carreirinho were a Brazilian duo who met in the Madureira neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro in the 1960s. Their partnership lasted for decades, built around Zé Matão's resonant voice and Carreirinho's cavaquinho playing. They worked in the traditions of samba and pagode, with songs like 'Arrependida' and 'Carreiro Sebastião' in their catalog.

In 1975, they released 'A Lei Divina,' a melancholic ballad that became their signature song. Its poetic lyrics about love and loss connected with listeners across Brazil, giving the duo national recognition.

Zé Matão, born José Matias Moreira da Cruz in 1931, was the primary vocalist and lyricist. Carreirinho, born Luiz dos Santos in 1942, handled instrumentation and backing vocals. Both faced personal difficulties later in life, with Matão struggling with alcohol and Carreirinho with health issues. Zé Matão died in 2010, and Carreirinho in 2019.