Hildemar Diniz, known as Monarco, and born on August 17, 1933, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was a singer and composer. He began his musical journey at a young age, composing sambas for local blocs and joining the Bloco Primavera in the mid-1940s. In 1950, Monarco joined the Ala de Compositores de Portela, where he collaborated with notable figures like Alcides Malandro Histórico. Throughout his career, Monarco released several albums, including Portela Passado de Glória (1970) and A Voz do Samba (1994). He worked as a director of harmony for Portela and contributed to the samba community through collaborations with artists such as Marisa Monte and Paulinho da Viola. In 2005, he was honored by the council municipal de Rio de Janeiro for his contributions to Brazilian music. Monarco passed away on December 11, 2021, due to surgical complications.
