The history of Cartola is intertwined with the history of urban carioca samba, from the 1920s through the end of the century. He was the partner of legendary Noel Rosa, he had his compositions recorded by virtually all acknowledged Brazilian interpreters, and he was a founder of Escola de Samba Estácio Primeira de Mangueira, (Samba School of Mangueira), one of the most famed samba schools of carioca Carnival (and the first Carnival association to employ the samba as a musical vehicle).