Quatro Ases e Um Coringa

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Quatro Ases e Um Curinga

Genres

MPB, baião, samba, marcha

Instruments

acoustic guitar, pandeiro, harmonica, vocals

Biography

O Quatro Ases e Um Coringa was one of the most successful vocal and instrumental groups during the so-called "golden age" of Brazilian radio, standing out intensely throughout the 1940s. Originally formed in Rio de Janeiro by musicians from Ceará — notably the Pontes de Medeiros brothers and André Vieira —, the group performed on emblematic broadcasting stations such as Rádio Mayrink Veiga, Rádio Tupi, and Rádio Nacional, where they participated in anthological programs alongside major names of the era.

Over a two-decade career, the ensemble recorded dozens of 78 rpm records and made history in Brazilian Popular Music in 1946 by launching the baião genre, composed by Humberto Teixeira and Luiz Gonzaga. This initiative helped boost national public interest in northeastern music, which until then had received little exposure outside its region of origin. In addition to their strong radio presence, the group also left their mark on national cinema, acting in films such as Astros em Desfile and Aviso aos Navegantes.

Having passed through important record labels such as Odeon, RCA Victor, and Mocambo, the ensemble concluded its activities in the early 1960s, leaving an indelible legacy in the tradition of the country's vocal groups. Sharing stages and radio waves with contemporaries like the Anjos do Inferno, O Quatro Ases e Um Coringa established itself as one of the pillars of mid-20th-century Brazilian musical culture.

Discography

• A Mulher de Fogo com Ninon Sevilla (1959)
• É com Esse que Eu Vou (1961)
• Novamente 4 Azes E 1 Coringa (1975)
• Boneca de Pano