Carlos Manuel Marques Paião, known as Carlos Paião, was born on November 1, 1957, in Portugal. He began his career as a singer and songwriter, initially gaining recognition with singles such as "Play Back" (1981) and "Souvenir de Portugal" (1981). In 1981, he represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest with "Playback", marking a significant milestone in his career. Paiao released two albums, Algarismos (1982) and Intervalo (1988), and notable songs like "Pó de Arroz" (1981) and "Cegonha" (1986). Paiao also collaborated with other artists such as Cândida Branca Flôr and António Sala. Tragically, Carlos Paiao died in a car accident on August 26, 1988, while traveling to a concert. His posthumous compilation album Grandes Êxitos was released in 2013.
