Nelson Mattos, known professionally as Nelson Sargento, and born on July 25, 1924, in Brazil, was a singer, composer, and actor. Influenced by his stepfather Alfredo Lourenço and the samba school Estação Primeira de Mangueira, Nelson's breakthrough came in 1949 with "Apologia ao mestre". Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he composed numerous sambas and performed at Zicartola lounge. His compositions like "Minha Vez de Sorrir" (1971) and "Falso Moralista" (1972) gained popularity through recordings by other artists. In 1979, Nelson released his debut solo album Sonho de um sambista, which included the hit "Agoniza Mas Não Morre". Subsequent releases include Encanto da paisagem (1986) and Inéditas de Nelson Sargento (1990). Nelson also made appearances in films including O Primeiro Dia and Orfeu. He passed away on May 27, 2021.
