Then, on January 27, he posted a video with the caption: “Life asks for so much, and I’m just a street sweeper who wants you to hear my music.” The background song? His own track ...

The city, beautiful and gleaming, rushes behind him, and in text, a simple plea - I'm just a street sweeper who wants the world to listen to my music. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SUENA LINDO, CORAZON ...

The song’s nostalgic tone struck a chord ... After graduating, he worked as a gardener and then as a street sweeper to make ends meet, nurturing his music during his free time at night.

The city, beautiful and gleaming, rushes behind him, and in text, a simple plea - I'm just a street sweeper who wants the world to listen to my music. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SUENA LINDO, CORAZON ...

Until recently, Macario Martínez was one of the thousands of fluorescent-green uniformed street sweepers in Mexico City, toiling with their long-bristled brushes in 8-hour shifts for about $10 a day.