Successful composer recorded by many top Brazilian artists, Carlos Colla, also the producer of Menudo and Luis Miguel in Brazil, started his artistic career as an actor in the '70s. Soon, he began to write music for the plays he worked in, and then played the guitar at clubs in the Praça Mauá area of Rio. In that period, he joined the band O Grupo as a guitarist, where he met Maurício Duboc, also a member of the band. After an O Grupo show at the Canecão, Colla and Duboc were introduced to Roberto Carlos, who asked the two composers to write a song especially for him to record. Their response was a cassette tape with Negra and Nome da Outra Música, both recorded by Carlos. This was the departure point for a successful career as a composer for Colla, with Falando Sério (recorded by Carlos, as was A Namorada), Dança do Coco (Xuxa), Hoje a Noite Não Tem Luar (Legião Urbana), Fogão de Lenha (written with Maurício Duboc and Xororó, recorded by Chitãozinho e Xororó), Pra Que Mentir (with Marcos Valle, recorded by Erasmo Carlos), Sinto Muito (with Chico Buarque, recorded by Wanderléa), Tô Deixando Você (with Chico Roque, recorded by Chitãozinho e Xororó), Na Hora do Adeus (with Chico Roque/Matogrosso, recorded by Matogrosso e Mathias), and Doces Algemas (with Nenéo, recorded by Wanderley Cardoso). ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi