Composer, arranger, musician, and producer Theo de Barros made a noted contribution to Brazilian popular music of the 1960s with the success of his songs at historic festivals. He was also a member of the seminal Quarteto Novo. At 19, his songs "Natureza" and "Igrejinha" were recorded by Alaíde Costa. His first singles as a singer came the next year -- "Vim de Santana" and "Fim" -- and his first hit was "Menino das Laranjas," recorded by Geraldo Vandré and Walter Wanderley in 1964 and by Elis Regina in 1965. In 1966, his "Disparada" (with Geraldo Vandré) was performed by Jair Rodrigues, Trio Maraiá, and Trio Novo at the II FMPB, tying for first place with Chico Buarque's "A Banda." He later produced and arranged the two earliest albums by Edu da Gaita, which were named Best Album of the Year (1981 and 1982) by Jornal do Brasil.