Odair José was one of the most successful artists in the '70s and the most successful one in the brega segment. José started as a self-taught musician, learning to play the violão (acoustic guitar), the piano, and the harmonica at ten. He formed a Brazilian country duo with a friend and moved to Rio de Janeiro RJ at the age 18. There he worked at circuses and bars in working-class boroughs. Soon he was producing songs that described the sad atmosphere of the night in that environment. His first composition, "Eu Vou Tirar Você Deste Lugar" (I'll Take You Outta Here), told a story about a man in love with a prostitute. Becoming one of his hits, José performed it with Caetano Veloso at the Phono 73 show, along with "Pare de Tomar a Pílula," another creation by José. In 1970 had one of his compositions recorded for the first time, "Chato e Atrevido," by vocalist Denise Barreto. It was the beginning of success, José sold millions of copies of his albums, from the first one, recorded that year, through the ten others until 1994. In 1977 he wrote the rock opera O Filho de José e Maria. ~ Alvaro Neder