Monarco was a member of the traditional Velha Guarda da Portela, a group comprising venerable composers of the Portela samba school. His sambas were recorded with success by Martinho da Vila ("Tudo Menos Amor" with Walter Rosa), Paulinho da Viola ("Passado de Glória" and "O Lenço"), Roberto Ribeiro ("Proposta Amorosa"), Beth Carvalho ("Fim de Sofrimento"), João Nogueira, Maria Creuza, Zeca Pagodinho (whose first hit was "Coração em Desalinho"), and Clara Nunes ("Rancho da Primavera"), among others. His work was featured on 1999's Tudo Azul, produced by Marisa Monte with the Ve...