Velha Guarda da Mangueira

The first line up of Velha Guarda da Mangueira (Mangueira's Old School) dates back to 1956, led by Carlos Cachaça, Cartola and Aloísio Dias. The members got together to represent one of the most traditional samba schools in Rio. Along the years, the Velha Guarda was in and out of the market. The group would vanish for long periods, seldom reuniting for scattered shows and never with the same members. The repertoire was comprised of standards by Carlos Cahcaça, Cartola and Nelson Cavaquinho, as well as compositions by new songwriters that emerged from within the Mangueira community. In 1988, they got back together, but the group only started officially in 1991, having Beth Carvalho as their godmother. The first album was made eight years later, on the label Nikita. Many songs are new in "Velha Guarda da Mangueira e Convidados". Beth Carvalho, Lenine, Nelson Sargento and Dona Ivone Lara appear in that album, which was preceded by a Japanese release, "Pedi Perdão".