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The man who just sold his 140,000,000th record: Who is Roberto Carlos?
Roberto Carlos has sold 140 million records, marking another milestone in a career that helped reshape Brazilian popular music. Known first for rock-influenced songs and later as a romantic balladeer, he became Brazil’s most successful musician and reached audiences across Latin America, the United States and Europe.
Born in Espírito Santo in 1941, Carlos learnt guitar and piano as a child and made his first television appearance aged nine. In the 1960s he rose to fame with songs including ‘Parei Na Contramão’ and the television programme Jovem Guarda, which he hosted with Erasmo Carlos and Wanderléa. He later developed a more mature sound, blending romantic ballads with rock, soul and funk, and recorded in Portuguese and Spanish.
In short
- Roberto Carlos has sold 140 million records.
- He helped shape Brazilian rock and popular music.
- His career expanded from youth hits to romantic ballads.
Explained simply
Roberto Carlos is a Brazilian singer who became a major figure in the country’s popular music. Born in Espírito Santo in 1941, he learned guitar and piano as a child and began appearing on television when he was nine.
In the 1960s, Carlos rose to fame with rock-influenced songs and Jovem Guarda, a television programme he hosted with fellow performers Erasmo Carlos and Wanderléa. He later became known for romantic ballads, drawing on rock, soul and funk, and recorded in Portuguese and Spanish.
His career helped shape Brazilian popular music, and his songs reached audiences across Latin America, the United States and Europe. His success also made him one of Brazil’s best-known musicians.