[1][3][4] He gained notability as a singer at the famed Zicartola lounge and, shortly thereafter, as a member of the ensembles A Voz do Morro and Os Cinco Crioulos in the 1960s.

In the 1949 Carnaval, he won the Mangueira's samba-enredo competition selection with "Apologia ao mestre" (in partnership with Alfredo Lourenço), and the samba school became the champion of that year's parade.

[2] In 1955, Nelson and Alfredo Lourenço composed the samba-enredo "As quatro estações do ano ou Cântico à natureza" (The four seasons of the year or Hymn to nature), considered one of the most beautiful ever performed.

Three years later, Nelson was elected president of Mangueira's composers' wing,[2] a position that allowed him more contact with the school's veteran sambistas, especially Cartola, of whom he would become a disciple occasionally completing some of his compositions.

Soon after, Nelson was invited to participate in the musical show "Rosa de Ouro" alongside Paulinho da Viola, Elton Medeiros, Jair do Cavaquinho and Anescarz.

[1][3] Gradually, some of his compositions began to be recorded by artists such as Paulinho da Viola, who released "Minha Vez de Sorrir" in 1971 and "Falso Moralista" in 1972, two of Nelson's best-known sambas.

[1][2] The commercial success of "Agoniza Mas Não Morre" allowed Nelson to finally record, at the age of 55, his first solo album, "Sonho de Sambista", released in 1979.

He also participated in films such as "O Primeiro Dia" by Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas, "Orfeu" by Cacá Diegues, and was the subject of the documentary "Nelson Sargento da Mangueira" by Estevão Ciavatta.

The couple raised a total of nine children, six biological - Fernando, José Geraldo, Marcos, Léo, Ricardo and Ronaldo - and three more adopted - Rosemere, Rosemar and Rosana.