Cruz started out as a studio backing singer and voiceover performer for television and radio commercials. In 1995, he entered the Portuguese Eurovision selection, "Festival da Canção", with the song '"Baunilha e chocolate" ("Vanilla and Chocolate"), and was the clear winner with the regional juries. "Baunilha e chocolate" went forward to the 40th Eurovision Song Contest, held on 13 May in Dublin. Cruz's performance was professional, but the song itself did not prove popular with the juries, finishing in 21st place of the 23 entries after receiving points only from France and Greece. This was Portugal's lowest Eurovision placement at the time.