1 of 1 Quinho do Salgueiro, considered one of the greatest voices of the Rio Carnival — Photo: Divulgação/Prefeitura de Campos Quinho do Salgueiro, considered one of the greatest voices of the Rio Carnival — Photo: Divulgação/Prefeitura de Campos
The interpreter Melquisedeque Marins Marques, better known as “Quinho do Salgueiro”, died this Wednesday (3). Quinho was one of the great voices of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, bringing Salgueiro's great sambas to life.
“Quinho was not just a singer but a poet who translated the essence of our school into notes,” Salgueiro posted on a social network.
“Quinho didn’t just sing for Salgueiro; he lived and breathed every note, every beat of the drums' racing heart. He embodied the Salgueiro spirit and his absence leaves an indescribable void.”
Quinho was taken away from Carnival last year to treat a tumor in his urethra. Nevertheless, his name was remembered during the parade by the sound car, which was named “Quinho do Salgueiro”.
“I was very moved by the fact that you received an honor in your life. We are a small part of this huge thing called carnival and samba school, and Salgueiro is my life,” he said in an interview with RJ2in 2023.
At the Rio Carnival, the cries of “Repia, Salgueiro, Pimba, Pimba,” “Oh, how beautiful, how beautiful,” and “How sweet” became Quinho’s signature characteristics.
Quinho celebrates his big carnival in Salgueiro
Quinho started in the Boi da Freguesia block and in 1988 was called to compose the sound car for Aroldo Melodia at the União da Ilha do Governador. And he stayed there until 1990.
He went to Salgueiro in 1991 and in 1993 Quinho stood out in the red and white of Tijuca with “Peguei um ita no Norte”. The following year he returned to União da Ilha.
During his career he attended other schools in Rio, such as São Clemente, Acadêmicos do Grande Rio, Império da Tijuca and Acadêmicos de Santa Cruz, as well as in São Paulo, such as Rosas de Ouro, and in Porto Alegre, such as Vila do IAPI.
But his strongest connection was with Salgueiro. In 2009 he played “Tambor”, with which he led the school to its ninth and final title.
Due to disagreements with the board, he spent some time outside and attempted to run for president of the association. But his candidacy was contested.
Quinho returned to Salgueiro in 2019 when he began sharing the sound car with Emerson Dias.