Ataulfo Alves

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Ataulfo Alves
Background information
Birth nameAtaulfo Alves de Sousa
Born(1909-05-02)2 May 1909
Miraí, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Died29 April 1969(1969-04-29) (aged 59)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
GenresSamba
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, and singer
Years active1929—1969

Ataulfo Alves de Sousa (2 May 1909 – 29 April 1969)[1] was a Brazilian samba singer and composer, best known for his collaborations with Mário Lago, such as with Ai! Que saudades da Amélia, as well as songs such as Laranja madura and Mulata assanhada.

Biography[edit]

Alves was born on 2 May 1909, in the town of Miraí, in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais. He was one of seven children to guitarist, accordionist, and repentista "Capitão" Severino. By age 8, Ataulfo had began to write his own lyrics. He worked various odd jobs while in school, such as a milk deliveryman, cattle steerer, suitcase carrier, shoeshiner, cabinet-maker, and farmer.[2] His father died when he was 10. His mother, soon after, moved with her children to the center of town.[3]

At 18 years old, Alves moved to Rio de Janeiro, accompanying a doctor with whom he worked each day as an assistant at his pharmacy. At 19, he played the violão, cavaquinho, and the bandolim.[2] He married Judite and had 5 children with her.[4]

At 20 years old, he began to compose and became director of harmony with Fale Quem Quiser, a bloco organized by people within the neighbourhood of Rio Comprido.[2]

In 1933, Almirante recorded the samba Sexta-feira, his first composition to be released as a recording. Days after, Carmen Miranda recorded his composition Tempo Perdido, guaranteeing Alves' entrance into the artistic world. In 1958, he appeared in the film Three Loves in Rio.[3] His discography exceeds 320 songs, being one of the most famous names in Brazilian popular music during the time in which he was active. Important interpreters, such as Clara Nunes, Luiz Melodia, Alaíde Costa, and Fabiana Cozza [pt], have sang versions of his music.[2][5]

Alves died in Rio de Janeiro due to an ulcer worsening after surgery. He died only a few days before his 60th birthday.[2] He was buried in Cemitério do Catumbi, in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro.[6]

On the anniversary of his birth, in Miraí, in 2009, the city promoted the construction of a mausoleum[7] to shelter his remains and his relatives that have since passed. The memorial is located at São Francisco de Assis cemetery. There is also a memorial collection of the composer in the city, inaugurated in 2005.[8] The permanent exhibition contains objects that had once belonged to Alves and images of his life, alongside personalities from the national and international scenes, and of national politics.

In 2009, he was posthumously awarded the Ordem do Mérito Cultural.[9]

In 2017, with the creation of the Academia Miraiense de Letras, Alves received a posthumous tribute, being proclaimed Perpetrual Patron on the second seat, referencing his birthdate of 2 May.[10]

Biggest hits[edit]

A monument in tribute to Alves in his hometown
  • Ai! que saudade da Amélia (with Mário Lago);
  • Atire a primeira pedra (with Mário Lago);
  • Bom crioulo;
  • Errei, erramos (with Arthur Vargas Junior);
  • Errei, sim;
  • Faz como eu;
  • Gente bem também samba;
  • Jubileu;
  • Laranja madura;
  • Leva meu samba;
  • Meus tempos de criança;
  • Marcha pró-oriente;
  • Mulata assanhada;
  • Na cadência do samba (with Paulo Gesta);
  • Nem que chova canivete;
  • O bonde de São Januário (with Wilson Batista);
  • O homem e o cão (with Arthur Vargas Junior);
  • Oh! Seu Oscar (with Wilson Batista);
  • Pois é;
  • Requebro da mulata;
  • Sei que é covardia (with Claudionor Cruz);
  • Vai, mas vai mesmo;
  • Vida da minha vida;
  • Vassalo do samba.

Disocgraphy[edit]

Ataulfo Alves e Suas Pastoras, 1945
  • 1959 — Ataulfo Alves e Suas Pastoras;
  • 1962 — Meu Samba... Minha Vida (Ataulfo Alves com Orquestra);
  • 1966 — Eternamente Samba;
  • 1968 — Ataulfo Alves e Seus Sucessos;
  • 1968 — Ataulfo Alves e Muito Samba;
  • 1970 — Ataulfo Alves;
  • 1977 — Nova História da MPB — Ataulfo Alves.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Cidade de Miraí festeja centenário de Ataulfo Alves", Folha de S.Paulo (online ed.), Folha da manhã
  2. ^ a b c d e "100 anos de Ataulfo Alves" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Centro Cultural São Paulo. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Ataulfo Alves" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Casa do Choro. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Ataulfo Alves" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Músicas do Brasil e mais. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  5. ^ Fernandes 2007, pgs. 86-87
  6. ^ "Catumbi - Cemitérios do Rio" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Cemitérios do Rio. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  7. ^ "MIRAÍ inaugura Mausoléu Ataulfo Alves". www.gazetademuriae.com.br. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Agência Minas - Notícias do Governo do Estado de Minas Gerais". www.2005-2015.agenciaminas.mg.gov.br. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  9. ^ Culture Ministry of Brazil. "Ordem do Mérito Cultural 2009" (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Jantar de Confraternização dos Membros da AML – Academia Miraiense de Letras – Silvan Alves" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 27 May 2024.

External links[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

  • Fernandes, Vagner. Clara Nunes: Guerreira da Utopia. Rio de Janeiro: Ediouro, 2007.