Erasmo participated effectively with Roberto Carlos and Wanderléa in the Jovem Guarda TV, show where he had the nickname "Tremendão" (The Big Tremendous), imitating the clothes and style of his idol Elvis Presley. His greatest successes as a singer in this phase were "Gatinha manhosa" and "Festa de arromba". He had been rumored to become the main presenter of the program, but Roberto Carlos ended up taking the spot. Roberto and Erasmo, as songwriting partners, were criticized for singing and writing rock music and being thus "americanized". As a response, "Coqueiro verde" was the first samba-rock recorded by Erasmo.