Brazilian composer, arranger, and reedman Moacir Santos began working as a conductor for Brazil's Radio Nacional while still in his early 20s. By the 1960s, he had become famous in Brazil for collaborating with Vinicius de Moraes and others. Santos was sought-after as a teacher when bossa nova hit big, and everyone from Roberto Menescal to Sergio Mendes learned from him. In 1965 he released his first album, COISAS, which became a milestone of the MPB movement. By 1967, he had moved to the U.S. to work on film soundtracks, but he continued to record solo albums, focusing on his unique blend of Brazilian pop and jazz.