The first woman to form a forro group, Marinês had gold records with A Dama do Nordeste and Bate Coração, two of her 30 albums. Some of her hits are "Peba na Pimenta," "Pisa na Fulô," "Xaxado da Paraíba," "Velho Ditado," "Mais Um Pau-de-Arara," "Balanço da Saudade," "Viúva Nova," "História de Lampeão," and "Chegou São João." She also participated in the film Rico Ri À Toa by Roberto Faria. Since she was a child, she was already participating in novice shows. In 1949, she formed the Casal da Alegria (Fun Couple) with her husband Abdias. With the zabumba player Cacau, they formed a trio that in the early '50s became the Patrulha de Choque do Rei do Baião. Meeting Luís Gonzaga, Marinês became the protégée of the King of Baião and his accompanist, being appointed the Rainha do Xaxado (the Queen of Xaxado, a Northeastern dance). Her first album was recorded in 1956 as Marinês e Sua Gente. In 1957, she had two big hits that are still popular today, the xotes "Peba na Pimenta" (João do Vale/José Batista/Adelino Rivera) and "Pisa na Fulô" (João do Vale/Ernesto Pires/Silveira Jr.). Invited by Luiz Gonzaga, she headed to Rio with her group and they began to perform on the radio. In 1958, she had success with the baiões "Aquarela Nordestina" and "Saudade de Campina Grande" (Rosil Cavalcânti), and by Gordurinha/Wilson de Morais with "Perigo de Morte." In 1960, she won the Euterpe trophy at the Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro as Best Regional Singer of the Year. Her LP Outra Vez Marinês (1962) earned her a second Euterpe trophy and also got the best-selling prize. Marinês survived the baião slump of the '60s to enjoy the forro craze in the '90s, when she saw her popularity grow stronger than ever. Commemorating 50 years of her career in 1999, her CD Marinês e Sua Gente was produced by Elba Ramalho with the participation of Moraes Moreira, Geraldo Azevedo, Lenine, Dominguinhos, Chico César, Margareth Menezes, Alceu Valença, Zé Ramalho, Ney Matogrosso, and several other artists. ~ Alvaro Neder