Jonas Henrique de Jesus Moreira

Origin

Belo Horizonte, MG

Years active

1995–2011

Genres

samba, marchinha, mpb

Instruments

violão

Biography

Mestre Jonas, artistic name of Jonas Henrique de Jesus Moreira, was born in Belo Horizonte on April 18, 1976. He built a multifaceted trajectory as a visual artist, songwriter, acoustic guitarist, and music producer in the capital of Minas Gerais, standing out for his active contribution to the local cultural scene. Throughout his career, he conceived and produced remarkable projects aimed at valuing the genre, such as Samba da Madrugada and Samba do Compositor. In 2010, he consolidated his phonographic work with the release of the CD Sambêro, on the Mais Brasil label.

His work and legacy left deep marks on the culture of Belo Horizonte, boosting samba circles and the city's carnival scene. The artist left us prematurely at the age of 35, on December 30, 2011, as the victim of a stroke.

As a way to honor his memory and keep his artistic importance alive, the Mestre Jonas Marchinha Contest was established. The annual musical competition, created in 2012, became traditional in the city by awarding the best composition inspired by the marchinha style for the Belo Horizonte carnival, celebrating the festive spirit that he fostered so much alongside other exponents of Brazilian music like Clara Nunes and Milton Nascimento.