Grupo Fundo de Quintal or simply Fundo de Quintal (Backyard Group, roughly) is a Brazilian samba band formed in Rio de Janeiro in the late 1970s.
History The founding members of Fundo de Quintal, Almir Guineto (banjo/cavaco), Bira Presidente (pandeiro), Jorge Aragão (acoustic guitar), Neoci (tan-tan), Sereno (tan-tan), Sombrinha (acoustic guitar/chip) and Ubirany (hand-repique), used to perform on Wednesdays in the sambas at the headquarters of the carnival block Cacique de Ramos in the mid-1970s. With the introduction of such instruments as the tan-tan, hand-repique and banjo, the group created a completely innovative style in samba (which, later on, the Brazilian music industry called pagode).
Patronized by the famous samba singer Beth Carvalho, Fundo de Quintal recorded its first album, Samba É No Fundo de Quintal, in 1980. Shortly thereafter, Almir Guineto and Jorge Aragão left the group to pursue a solo career, in addition to Neoci, who soon died. Arlindo Cruz (banjo / cavaco) and Walter Sete Cordas (acoustic guitar) joined the band, which recorded its second album, Samba É No Fundo de Quintal Vol. 2, in 1981. But Walter Sete Cordas left soon after, having been replaced by Cleber Augusto (acoustic guitar). The lineup of Arlindo Cruz, Sombrinha, Cleber Augusto, Sereno, Bira Presidente and Ubirany recorded seven studio albums and one live album between 1983 and 1990.
Following the departure of Sombrinha, Fundo de Quintal recruited Mário Sérgio (cavaco) just as Ademir Batera (drummer) joined the group, having debuted on the LP É Aí Que Quebra a Rocha, released the following year. In 1992, Arlindo Cruz left Fundo de Quintal, which recruited Ronaldinho (banjo). The new lineup of Mário Sérgio, Ronaldinho, Cleber Augusto, Sereno, Bira Presidente and Ubirany recorded eight studio albums and two live albums between 1993 and 2002, the year in which Cleber Augusto left the group for health reasons.
In 2008, it was Mário Sérgio who left the band to pursue a solo career, but he returned five years later. However, he died in 2016, a victim of cancer. Even with the departure of Ronaldinho in 2018, Fundo de Quintal has been active, with two new members Júnior Itaguay (banjo) and Márcio Alexandre (cavaco), in addition to the remaining Ademir Batera, Sereno, Bira Presidente and Ubirany who died in 2020. Bira Presidente died on 14 July 2025, at the age of 88.
Band members Current members Serenotan-tan, vocals Ademir Bateradrums Júnior Itaguaybanjo, lead vocals Márcio Alexandrecavaco, lead vocals
Former members Almir Guinetobanjo, cavaco, vocals Jorge Aragãoacoustic-guitar, vocals Neocytan-tan, vocals Sombrinhacavaco, acoustic-guitar, lead vocals Bira Presidentepandeiro, vocals Ubiranyhand-repique, vocals Walter 7 Cordasacoustic-guitar, vocals Arlindo Cruzbanjo, cavaco, lead vocals Cleber Augustoacoustic-guitar, vocals Mário Sérgiocavaco, lead vocals Ronaldinhobanjo, vocals Flavinho Silvacavaco, lead vocals Milsinhocavaco, lead vocals Delcio Luizcavaco, lead vocals
Discography Studio albums
1980: Samba é No Fundo de Quintal 1981: Samba é No Fundo de Quintal Vol. 2 1983: Nos Pagodes da Vida 1984: Seja Sambista Também 1985: Divina Luz 1986: O Mapa da Mina 1987: Do Fundo do Nosso Quintal 1988: O Show Tem Que Continuar 1989: Ciranda do Povo 1991: É Aí Que Quebra a Rocha 1993: A Batucada dos Nossos Tantãs 1994: Carta Musicada 1995: Palco Iluminado 1996: Nas Ondas do Partido 1997: Livre Pra Sonhar 1998: Fundo de Quintal e Convidados 1999: Chega Pra Sambar 2001: Papo de Samba 2003: Festa Pra Comunidade 2006: Pela Hora 2011: Nossa Verdade 2015: Só Felicidade
Live albums
1990: Ao Vivo 2000: Simplicidade 2002: Gravado no Cacique de Ramos 2004: Ao Vivo Convida 2007: O Quintal do Samba 2008: Samba de Todos os Tempos 2009: Vou Festejar 2012: No Compasso do Samba 2015: Fundo de Quintal no No Circo Voador — 40 Anos 2017: Roda de Samba do Fundo de Quintal no Cacique de Ramos
Accolades In 2015, their album Só Felicidade was nominated for the 16th Latin Grammy Awards in the Best Samba/Pagode Album category.
References
External links Official site