While living with Porto Carrer, he founded Movimento Artístico Universitário (MAU), with Aldir Blanc, Ivan Lins, Márcio Proença, Paulo Emílio, and César Costa Filho.

In this early part of his career, he was seen as aggressive in the eyes of the media, with songs like "Piada Infeliz" and "Erva," earning the nickname "cantor rancor" [grudge singer].

With the beginning of redemocratization in Brazilian politics in the latter half of the '70s, Gonzaguinha started to compose more lighthearted songs like "Recado," 'Começaria Tudo Outra Vez," "Explode Coração," "Espere por Mim Morena," "Grito de Alerta," "Sangrando, Eu Apenas Queria que Você Soubesse," "Caminhos do Coração," "O Que É o que É, Feliz," "Mamão com Mel e Lindo Lago do Amor," "Nem o Pobre nem o Rei."

The compositions were recorded by many big MPB artists, like Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia, Zizi Possi, Simone, Elis Regina (Redescobrir or Ciranda de Pedra), Fagner, and Joanna.

Returning from a performance in Pato Branco, Paraná, the singer was driving a Chevrolet Monza around 7:20 am on a southwestern highway when he collided with a truck in Renascença.