Antônio Carlos Belchior, known simply as Belchior, was a prominent Brazilian singer and composer born on October 26, 1946, in Sobral, Ceará, Brazil. He emerged as one of the first MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) singers from the Brazilian northeast to achieve mainstream success in the early 1970s. Belchior's 1976 album "Alucinação" is heralded as a pivotal work in the history of MPB and is considered one of the most significant albums in Brazilian music history.

Throughout his career, Belchior was known for his unique blend of traditional Brazilian music styles with modern influences such as jazz and rock. His music continued to resonate with audiences long after the peak of the MPB movement. In 2008, Rolling Stone Brasil recognized him as the 100th greatest artist in Brazilian music history and the 58th greatest voice.

Despite his success, Belchior's life was marked by periods of disappearance. In 2009, he was reported missing, having last been seen in 2007. Speculation arose that he was translating Dante's "Divine Comedy" into Portuguese. He was eventually found living in Uruguay with his second wife, Edna, claiming he was "resting, composing and thinking about life." He disappeared again in 2012, leaving unpaid bills and personal belongings in a hotel in Uruguay.

Belchior passed away from a heart attack on April 30, 2017, in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. His death was followed by three days of official mourning declared by the governor of Ceará. Despite the mysteries surrounding his life, Belchior remains a celebrated figure in Brazilian music.