Dick Farney
14/11/1921
04/08/1987
Dick Farney studied classical piano and singing with his parents, and started performing classical works on the radio. In 1937, he started working as a singer, and later transferred to Radio Mayrink Veiga, where he had his own show, “Dick Farney, his Voice and his Piano”. He played in jazz and popular music orchestras, and even performed at the Urca Casino, one of the most prominent music venues in that period. He specialized in North American repertory until releasing his big success, “Copacabana” (J. de Barro/ A. Ribeiro), in 1946, arranged by Radamés Gnattali, which would be considered the precursor of Bossa Nova. In the 1940s, he went to the United States, where he performed with Nat King Cole, Davis Brubeck and Bill Evans, remaining for over year. He was the first to record the American standard, "Tenderly" (Walter Gross).
Farney returned to Brazil, well known for the recordings which Continental had released while he was in the USA, like "Marina" (Caymmi). In the 1950s, he became involved with the Bossa Nova movement, performing some classics like "Tereza da Praia" (Jobim/ B. Blanco), in a duet with Lúcio Alves. He also took part in the first recording of "Sinfonia do Rio de Janeiro", written by the same composers, in 1954.
In the 1960s and 70s, he toured round many countries, appeared on television shows and became the owner of nightclubs in São Paulo.
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