With Os Cariocas and Anjos do Inferno, the Quatro Ases e Um Coringa was the most successful vocal group of its time, basically with a repertory of marchinhas de Carnaval. The group also performed in the successful films #Aviso Aos Navegantes (Watson Macedo, 1950) and #Tudo Azul (Moacir Fenelon, 1952).

The three brothers Evenor Pontes de Medeiros (guitar), José Pontes de Medeiros (guitar/vocals), and Permínio Pontes de Medeiros (lead vocals/harmonica) and their friend André Batista Vieira (pandeiro/vocals) opened as Bando Cearense in 1940 at the Ceará Rádio Clube. With the fifth member (Pijuca, guitar/vocals), they went to Rio de Janeiro in the next year as Quatro Ases e Um Melé (Four Aces and a Joker, the joker being Batista Vieira). In 1941, they debuted on the Rádio Mayrink Veiga as amateurs. Their professional debut would be on Rádio Tupi the same year, when they recorded their first album accompanying Dircinha Batista on Ela Disse Que Dá (Assis Valente) and Costela de Cera (Linda Batista). They recorded their first album as soloists the same year, with Os Dois Errados (Estanislau Silva/Álvaro Alves/Nelson Trigueiro) and Dora, Meu Amor (Constantino Silva/André Vieira). Hired by the Cassino Copacabana, they worked there until 1946 when the casinos were closed by presidential decree. In 1952, Vieira left the group, which performed as a quartet for a while and then tried three different vocalists, the last being Miltinho.

Their biggest hits, all recorded from 1942 to 1952, were Viva Quem Tem Bigode (Davi Nasser/Rubem Soares), Eu Vi Um Leão (Lauro Maia), No Ceará é Assim (Carlos Barroso), Trem de Ferro (Lauro Maia), Terra Seca (Ary Barroso), Eu Vou Até de Manhã (Maia), Baião (Luíz Gonzaga/Humberto Teixeira), Chega, Chega, Chegadinho (Maia), Onde Estão os Tamborins (Pedro Caetano), O Periquito de Madame (Nestor de Holanda/Carvalhinho/Afonso Teixeira), Sá Mariquinha (Luís Assunção/Evenor Pontes), É Com Esse Que Eu Vou (Pedro Caetano), Cigana Feiticeira (Benedicto Lacerda/Haroldo Lobo), Seridó (Gonzaga/Teixeira), Cabelos Brancos (Herivelto Martins/Marino Pinto), Mangaratiba (Teixeira/Gonzaga), Derramaro o Gai (Zé Dantas/Gonzaga), Baião de Dois (Teixeira/Gonzaga), Marcha do Caracol (Peterpan/Afonso Teixeira), Apanhador de Papel, and Pescador (Haroldo Lobo/Milton de Oliveira). ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi