Minona Carneiro

Origin

Recife, PE

Also known as

Severino de Figueiredo Carneiro

Years active

1927–1930

Genres

embolada, samba, modinha, música regional

Instruments

voice

Biography

Severino de Figueiredo Carneiro, known as Minona Carneiro, was a Brazilian singer and composer born in Recife, Pernambuco, on November 23, 1902. He was a familiar figure in the bohemian circles of Recife, where he initially performed songs and modinhas. His early career involved participating in a regional ensemble led by Pedro Alves.

Due to health complications that affected his voice, Carneiro was compelled to shift his musical style towards emboladas, a type of Brazilian folk music characterized by fast-paced, rhyming verses. He honed this craft under the tutelage of Manezinho Araújo, whom he met at a party in Casa Amarela. Together, they performed on several occasions.

In 1927, Minona Carneiro joined the ensemble "Voz do Sertão," organized by the bandolim player Luperce Miranda. The group, which also included Romualdo Miranda on guitar, José Ferreira on cavaquinho, and Jayme Florence (Meira) on guitar, relocated to Rio de Janeiro in 1928. That same year, they recorded several compositions, including the sambas "Sacode a saia morena" and "Samba da meia-noite," and the embolada "Minas Gerais," all in collaboration with Luperce Miranda. Carneiro's discography also includes recordings of his own compositions like "Ai seu Mané," "Chô, bicho," and "O perigo da muié." His career was tragically cut short by his declining health, which forced him to return to Recife, where he passed away in 1936.