Catarina Maria de França Carneiro, known professionally as Cátia de França (born
February 13, 1947, in João Pessoa, Paraíba), is a Brazilian MPB singer,
songwriter, and writer. França began piano lessons at age four and later studied
classical piano at the Escola de Música Antenor Navarro before mastering the
guitar, flute, and accordion. In 1967, she won the IV Festival Paraibano de MPB
with the song “Mariano”. After moving to Rio de Janeiro in the early 1970s,
França collaborated with Zé Ramalho, Elba Ramalho, and Sivuca. Her debut album,
20 Palavras ao Redor do Sol (1979), was...