Carlos Mejía Godoy, born on June 27, 1943, in Somoto, Madriz, Nicaragua, is a renowned musician, composer, and singer-songwriter, celebrated as a key figure in the nueva canción movement in Central America. He grew up in a musically inclined family, with his father, Carlos Mejía Fajardo, being a popular musician, and his brother Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy also pursuing a career in music.

Carlos Mejía Godoy's career began in the 1960s when he started collaborating as a radio host and actor, creating satirical radio programs and developing his first musical works. He became known for his song "Alforja Campesina" and his involvement with groups like "Los Madrigales" and "Los Bisturices Armónicos," through which he explored and promoted Nicaraguan folklore.

In the 1970s, Carlos and his brother Luis Enrique became pivotal figures in the nueva canción movement, using their music to support the Sandinista National Liberation Front's revolutionary cause against the Somoza dictatorship. His songs, often performed with his band Los de Palacagüina, became anthems of the Sandinista movement. Notably, his work "La Misa Campesina Nicaragüense," first performed in 1976, combined Christian and revolutionary themes, reflecting the Sandinista ideology.

Carlos Mejía Godoy's political involvement extended beyond music. He participated in the Sandinista Revolution and later became politically distant from the Sandinista leadership, particularly under Daniel Ortega. In 2006, he ran as a vice-presidential candidate for the Movimiento Renovador Sandinista, a party formed by disillusioned Sandinistas.

Throughout his career, Mejía Godoy has been recognized for his contributions to Nicaraguan culture, receiving the Order of Rubén Darío, the country's highest cultural honor. He continues to influence Nicaraguan music and culture, hosting a television show and running a café in Managua where he performs with other musicians.