HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Francisco Alves

Latin Music/Recording: South America: Francisco Alves

Francisco Alves

Launching the South American portion of this Project, Francisco Alves was born on 19 August 1898 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he would do most of his recording. As a Portuguese samba guitarist and singer, Alves' recordings were directly tied to Carnival. His father ran a bar while he was a youth. Developing into a tenor and baritone, Alves was twenty when he began singing professionally with the theatre companies, John of God and Martins Chaves. The first samba to be recorded, 'Pelo Telefone' ('By Telephone'), had already gone down on 27 November 1916, composed by a group of collaborators including José Barbosa da Silva (aka Sinhô). Alves first recorded for the new Brazilian record label, Popular, in October of 1919. Though encountered discographies may make 'Alivia Estes Olhos' appear to be his first issued recording, I go by the order given at Dicionario MPB and Discografia Brasileira which state his debut release to be 'O Pé de Anjo', a march in D-flat major composed by Sinhô [IMSLP], as well as performed with Sinhô accompanied by the Grupo Dos Africanos. The first Carnival competition had been held on 3 February of 1919 [Thompson]. 'O Pé de Anjo' won the second competition of 1920:

'O Pé de Anjo' ('Angel Foot') Recorded October 1919

'Fala Meu Louro' is a samba in A-flat major also composed by Sinhô [IMSLP] and recorded in Oct of 1919:

'Fala meu louro' aka 'Speak, My Blond Parrot' Recorded October 1919

'Alivia Estes Olhos' is another samba written by Sinhô' sessioned in October 1919:

'Alivia Estes Olhos' ('Soothes These Eyes') Recorded October 1919

Moving into the twenties, Alves worked in theatre for the next few years before recording again in 1924. During that time he married the actress, Célia Zenatti, in 1921, with whom he remained until 1948. Among titles recorded for Odeon (Brasil) in 1924 was 'Mademoiselle Cinema'. Issued later in Feb of 1928 was 'Malandrinha' composed by Freire Junior:

'Malandrinha' ('Trickster') Odeon 10159 B

Between 1928 and 1932 Alves recorded for Parlophon as Chico Viola. 'Chiribiribi' saw issue in May of 1929:

'Chiribiribi' Alves as Chico Viola Parlophon 12960 1929

Turning the page into the thirties, among the more than forty singles listed with Odeon in that year alone was the samba, 'Palhaço' ('Clown'), thought composed by Nelson Cavaquinho. That was performed with the Orquestra Pan American toward issue in January of 1930 on Odeon 10552 B:

'Palhaço' ('Clown') Composition: Nelson Cavaquinho Odeon 10552 B 1930

'Marianne' issued on side A of Odeon 10556 with the Orquestra Pan American in 1930 as well. Side B of Odeon 10556 was the waltz, 'Adda', performed with the Orquestra Rio Artists. That had been authored by Mário Ramos and Salvador J. Moraes:

'Adda' Waltz Odeon 10556 B

Among more than thirty singles in 1931 was 'Ri, palhaço' ('Laugh, Clown') on Odeon 10763 A. That had been written by Miguel Guimarães Jr. and Catulo da Paixão Cearense:

'Ri, palhaço' ('Laugh, Clown') March Odeon 10736 A

'Pálida morena' saw recording on 31 August 1933 toward release on Odeon 11067 A:

'Pálida morena' ('Pale Brunette') Issued Nov 1933 on Odeon 11067 A

It was also 1933 when Alves saw his music used in film for the first time per 'Voz do Carnaval', that also Carmen Miranda's debut appearance in film. Another big name with whom Alves worked was Ary Barroso with whom he composed 'Meu Natal' ('My Christmas') toward issue in 1934, thought to be his first title issued by Victor with 'Linda mulher' ('Beautiful Linda') on side B:

'Meu Natal' Composition: Alves/Barroso 1934

Alves composed 'Não Sei' ('I Don't Know') with Orestes Barbosa, that recorded on 18 May of 1934:

'Não Sei' Composition: Alves/Barbosa 1934

'Foi Ella!' went down on 16 October 1934 (unconfirmed) toward issue on Victor 33880 A. That had been composed by Ary Barroso and Lamartine Babo:

'Foi Ella' ('It Was Ella!) Victor 33880 A 1934

Side B of 'Foi Ella!' was 'Grau 10' authored by Barroso:

'Grau 10' ('Degree 10') Composition: Ary Barroso Victor 33880 B 1934

Alves appeared in the film, 'Alô, Alô Brazil', released on 4 Feb 1935 also featuring Carmen Miranda among others. Come 'Até o sol' on 26 August 1935 toward release on Victor 33995 A, that composed by Hervé Cordovil:

'Até o sol' ('Until the Sun') Composition: Hervé Cordovil Victor 33995 A 1935

Side B of 'Até o sol' was 'Na Virada da Montanha' backed by the Diabos do Céu. That had been composed by Ary Barroso and Roberto Lamartine Babo:

'Na virada da montanha' ('At the Turn of the Mountain') Victor 33995 B 1935

Alves also performed in the film, 'Alô, Alô Carnival!', released on 20 January 1936. Its soundtrack issued the same year, that also featuring Carmen Miranda et al:

'Alô Alô Carnaval!' ('Hello Hello Carnival!') Film 1936

'Alô Alô Carnaval!' ('Hello Hello Carnival!') Soundtrack 1936

Alves' samba, 'Favela', was authored by Roberto Martins and Valdemar Silva toward recording on 20 April 1936, issued in June on Victor 34059 A:

'Favela' ('Slum') Victor 34059 A 1936

Come 'Misterioso amor' on 11 March 1937 toward release on Victor 34159 A, that composed by Saint-Clair Sena:

'Misterioso amor' ('Misterioso Love') Victor 34159 A 1937

'Serra da boa esperança' went down several days later on 17 March 1937 toward release on Victor 34174 A, that authored by Roberto Lamartine Babo. That samba would see reissue in April 1945:

'Serra da boa esperança' Victor 34174 A 1937 Reissue April 1945

'Carnaval Na Minha Terra' was sessioned on 16 Dec 1937 toward issue on Odeon 11571 A:

'Carnaval Na Minha Terra' ('Carnaval in My Land') Odeon 11571 A 1937

'Solteiro é melhor' ('Single Is Better') saw session sometime in 1939. That was authored by Felisberto Silva and Rubens Soares toward release by Columbia:

'Solteiro é melhor' for Columbia 1939

Composed by Ary Barroso, 'Aquarela do Brasil' ('Watercolor of Brazil') was recorded with the Radamés E Sua Orchestra on 13 August 1939. That first saw issue on Odeon 11768, later on Odeon 295008 and Odeon P.L. 31:

'Aquarela do Brasil' Composition: Ary Barroso Odeon 11768 1939

'Acorda Estela' saw issue by Columbia in 1939 as well, written for Carnival by Dalva de Oliveira:

'Acorda Estela' ('Wake Up Estela') Columbia 1939

'Perfidia' was recorded with the Odeon Orquestra toward issue on Odeon 12051 A in latter 1941. That was authored by Alberto Dominguez and Roberto Lamartine Babo:

'Perfidia' Odeon 12051 A 1941

'A Dama de Vermelho' was recorded with the Orquestra Odeon on 14 May 1943. Composed by Alcyr Pires Vermelho and Pedro Caetano, that saw release on Odeon 12322:

'A Dama de Vermelho' ('The Lady in Red') Odeon 12322 1943

Moving ahead into the latter forties, 'Fracasso' went down for Odeon in May of 1946, that written by Mario Lago:

'Fracasso' ('Failure') Composition: Mario Lago 1946

'Palhaço' ('Clown') of 1947 is credited to Herivelto Martins and Benedito Lacerda, issued in Jan of 1947 on Odeon 12751 B:

'Palhaço' ('Clown') Odeon 12751 B 1947

'Marina' had been authored by Dorival Caymmi and backed by the Orquestra Odeon toward release on Odeon 12773 B in August of 1947:

'Marina' Composition: Herivelto Martins Odeon 12773 B Issued August 1947

'Caminhemos' had been recorded on 13 June 1947 toward release on Odeon 12810 B in November:

'Caminhemos' Composition: Herivelto Martins Odeon 12810 B Issued November 1947

'Vidas Mal Traçadas' ('Mismatched Lives') was a waltz written by Giuseppe Ghiaroni. Recorded on 17 August 1948, that was issued on Odeon 12881 A in November 1948:

'Vidas Mal Traçadas' ('Poorly Traced Lives') Odeon 12881 A 1948

Composed by Herivelto Martins and Benedito Lacerda, 'A Lapa' is thought to have been recorded in 1949 toward release in 1950:

'Vidas Mal Traçadas' ('Poorly Traced Lives') Odeon 12881 A 1948

Alves composed 'Canção de Natal do Brasil' with David Nasser and Felisber Martins. Thought recorded on 5 December 1950, that saw issue in Dec 1951 on Odeon 13198 A:

'Canção de Natal do Brasil' ('Christmas Song of Brazil') Odeon 13198 A Issued Dec 1951

Side B of 'Canção de Natal do Brasil' was 'Sinos de Natal', also grooved on 5 December 1950. That was written by Victor Simon and Wilson Roberto:

'Sinos de Natal' ('Christmas Bells') Odeon 13198 B Issued Dec 1951

Alves put down 'Convite ao samba' ('Invitation to Samba') on 25 June of 1951 toward release in October on Odeon 13174 A. That had been authored by Denis Brean and Oswaldo Guilherme:

'Convite ao samba' ('Invitation to Samba') Odeon 13174 A Issued Oct 1951

Come 'Pra que sofrer' ('Why Suffer') on 19 October of 1951 toward release on Odeon 13224 B in January of 1952. That had been composed by Alves with José Roy:

'Pra que sofrer' ('Why Suffer') Odeon 13224 B Issued Oct 1951

'Confete' was a Carnival march recorded on 9 November of 1951 toward release on Odeon 13211 A in 1952. That had been credited to Alves along with David Nasser and Joaquim Antonio Candeias Jr.:

'Confete' Odeon 13211 A Issued for Carnival 1952 (23 February-23 March)

'Que saudade' ('I Miss You') arrived on 11 November of 1951 toward release on Odeon 13232 B in March of 1952. That had been composed by Alves with Luiz Iglésias:

'Que saudade' Odeon 13232 B Issued March 1952

Alves died in an auto accident on 27 September 1952. 'Album Da Saudade' saw issue the next year on Odeon LDS 3.001. Alves had released 526 records totaling 981 titles [Brasileiros]. Of the 132 compositions originally credited to him, some number of them seem to have been purchased, or so it was later discovered. Howsoever, during the three decades of his career beginning w Sinho and the new Popular record label in 1919, Alves became one of the largest names in early Latin recording.

Sources & References:

Brazilian Digital Library

Dicionario MPB

Discografia Brasileira

Wikipedia (Portuguese)

WikiZero

Filmographies: