Biography
In tandem with Os Cariocas and Anjos do Inferno, Quatro Ases e Um Coringa ranked as the era’s leading vocal ensemble, relying chiefly on a catalog of marchinhas de Carnaval. The quartet also appeared in the popular motion pictures Aviso Aos Navegantes (Watson Macedo, 1950) and Tudo Azul (Moacir Fenelon, 1952).
Evenor Pontes de Medeiros on guitar, José Pontes de Medeiros handling guitar and vocals, Permínio Pontes de Medeiros delivering lead vocals and harmonica, together with their associate André Batista Vieira on pandeiro and vocals, launched their career in 1940 under the name Bando Cearense at the Ceará Rádio Clube. After recruiting a fifth musician, Pijuca, on guitar and vocals, the ensemble traveled to Rio de Janeiro the following year and adopted the billing Quatro Ases e Um Melé. They first performed on Rádio Mayrink Veiga in 1941 while still amateurs; later that same year they made their professional bow on Rádio Tupi by backing Dircinha Batista on the tracks “Ela Disse Que Dá” (Assis Valente) and “Costela de Cera” (Linda Batista). Also in 1941 they issued their initial recording under their own name, featuring “Os Dois Errados” (Estanislau Silva/Álvaro Alves/Nelson Trigueiro) and “Dora, Meu Amor” (Constantino Silva/André Vieira). Subsequently contracted by the Cassino Copacabana, they remained on its roster until 1946, when presidential order shut down the casinos. Vieira departed in 1952, leaving the group to continue briefly as a quartet before it auditioned three successive singers, the final one being Miltinho.
Between 1942 and 1952 the ensemble scored its most notable successes with “Viva Quem Tem Bigode” (Davi Nasser/Rubem Soares), “Eu Vi Um Leão” (Lauro Maia), “No Ceará é Assim” (Carlos Barroso), “Trem de Ferro” (Lauro Maia), “Terra Seca” (Ary Barroso), “Eu Vou Até de Manhã” (Maia), “Baião” (Luíz Gonzaga/Humberto Teixeira), “Chega, Chega, Chegadinho” (Maia), “Onde Estão os Tamborins” (Pedro Caetano), “O Periquito de Madame” (Nestor de Holanda/Carvalhinho/Afonso Teixeira), “Sá Mariquinha” (Luís Assunção/Evenor Pontes), “É Com Esse Que Eu Vou” (Pedro Caetano), “Cigana Feiticeira” (Benedicto Lacerda/Haroldo Lobo), “Seridó” (Gonzaga/Teixeira), “Cabelos Brancos” (Herivelto Martins/Marino Pinto), “Mangaratiba” (Teixeira/Gonzaga), “Derramaro o Gai” (Zé Dantas/Gonzaga), “Baião de Dois” (Teixeira/Gonzaga), “Marcha do Caracol” (Peterpan/Afonso Teixeira), “Apanhador de Papel,” and “Pescador” (Haroldo Lobo/Milton de Oliveira).
Evenor Pontes de Medeiros on guitar, José Pontes de Medeiros handling guitar and vocals, Permínio Pontes de Medeiros delivering lead vocals and harmonica, together with their associate André Batista Vieira on pandeiro and vocals, launched their career in 1940 under the name Bando Cearense at the Ceará Rádio Clube. After recruiting a fifth musician, Pijuca, on guitar and vocals, the ensemble traveled to Rio de Janeiro the following year and adopted the billing Quatro Ases e Um Melé. They first performed on Rádio Mayrink Veiga in 1941 while still amateurs; later that same year they made their professional bow on Rádio Tupi by backing Dircinha Batista on the tracks “Ela Disse Que Dá” (Assis Valente) and “Costela de Cera” (Linda Batista). Also in 1941 they issued their initial recording under their own name, featuring “Os Dois Errados” (Estanislau Silva/Álvaro Alves/Nelson Trigueiro) and “Dora, Meu Amor” (Constantino Silva/André Vieira). Subsequently contracted by the Cassino Copacabana, they remained on its roster until 1946, when presidential order shut down the casinos. Vieira departed in 1952, leaving the group to continue briefly as a quartet before it auditioned three successive singers, the final one being Miltinho.
Between 1942 and 1952 the ensemble scored its most notable successes with “Viva Quem Tem Bigode” (Davi Nasser/Rubem Soares), “Eu Vi Um Leão” (Lauro Maia), “No Ceará é Assim” (Carlos Barroso), “Trem de Ferro” (Lauro Maia), “Terra Seca” (Ary Barroso), “Eu Vou Até de Manhã” (Maia), “Baião” (Luíz Gonzaga/Humberto Teixeira), “Chega, Chega, Chegadinho” (Maia), “Onde Estão os Tamborins” (Pedro Caetano), “O Periquito de Madame” (Nestor de Holanda/Carvalhinho/Afonso Teixeira), “Sá Mariquinha” (Luís Assunção/Evenor Pontes), “É Com Esse Que Eu Vou” (Pedro Caetano), “Cigana Feiticeira” (Benedicto Lacerda/Haroldo Lobo), “Seridó” (Gonzaga/Teixeira), “Cabelos Brancos” (Herivelto Martins/Marino Pinto), “Mangaratiba” (Teixeira/Gonzaga), “Derramaro o Gai” (Zé Dantas/Gonzaga), “Baião de Dois” (Teixeira/Gonzaga), “Marcha do Caracol” (Peterpan/Afonso Teixeira), “Apanhador de Papel,” and “Pescador” (Haroldo Lobo/Milton de Oliveira).
Albums