1952

Francisco Alves has a key-role in the history of Brazilian music. He appeared during a time when recording techniques were being perfected in Brazil, albums were becoming popular, radio was developing and the samba was being established as a music style. Having sold approximately 5 million albums, his career is superlative. He would be known forever as the Voice King , an illustrious representative of the radio days. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he spent childhood in the northern neighborhoods that would enable the samba to emerge. Alves was a factory worker and decided to take singing lessons so as to try for a job on a circus. He got the position, but had to keep having regular jobs, this time around as a cab driver, so as to make a living. He first recorded in 1919, doing three Sinhô songs: "Pé de Anjo", "Fala, Meu Louro" and "Alivia Estes Olhos". In 1924, he recorded on Odeon, but did not enjoy success until 1927, when he was the first singer to use the electric recording process. Then he became well-known and, evetually, the greatest singer in Brazil. He recorded on Odeon and Parlophon, where he used the stage name Chico Viola. Alves debuted on the radio in 1929, helping many black samba artists on their way toward fame, such as Cartola, Heitor dos Prazeres and Ismael Silva. Francisco ruled during the 1930s and 40s. He also wrote music, although it's not easy to define which of the songs were written by him and which were bought from other composers. Rich and famous, Francisco would make offers to the likes of Noel Rosa and Ismael Silva, buying their songs and royalties. His career never decayed. When he died, he was still very famous. His death, in a car cracsh, provoked commotion all over the country, and thousands of people attended his funeral. Some of his greatest hits are "Boa Noite, Amor" (J.M. Abreu/ F. Matoso), "É Bom Parar" (Rubens Soares), "Foi Ela" (Ary Barroso), "A Mulher que Ficou na Taça" (com Orestes Barbosa), "Serra da Boa Esperança" (Lamartine Babo), "Se Você Jurar" (Ismael Silva), "Fita Amarela" (Noel Rosa), "Aquarela do Brasil" (Ary Barroso), "Onde o Céu Azul É Mais Azul" (Alcyr Pires Vermelho/ João de Barro/ Alberto Ribeiro), e ainda "A Voz do Violão" (with Horácio Campos), "Malandrinha" (Freire Júnior), "Caminhemos" (Herivelto Martins) and "Cadeira Vazia" (Lupicínio Rodrigues/ Alcides Gonçalves).