JohnnyAlf

Rapaz de Bem - Johnny Alf

The landmark of Bossa Nova in Brazil was the 1959 release of João Gilberto's LP, Chega de Saudade. However, seven years earlier, a pianist and composer from Rio had already laid the foundations of this genre.

Johnny Alf was born Alfredo José da Silva, on May 19, 1929, in Rio. When he was three years old, his father died, and his mother went to work as a washerwoman in the home of a family who ended up becoming little Alfredo's godparents. At age nine, he began studying piano with teacher Geni Alves, who noticed his talent and offered him a strict, classically-oriented training. Besides the classics, Alfredo also enjoyed listening to Carmem Miranda, Francisco Alves, and Sílvio Caldas. On Rádio Cruzeiro do Sul, he had access to jazz: Stan Keaton, Billie Holiday, and Nat King Cole.

Johnny Alf

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In the 1940s, Alfredo was invited to play piano at events held by the Brazil-United States Institute (Ibeu) and performed for the Ministry of Education Radio. It was during this time that the name Johnny Alf emerged: Alf was already his nickname at school, and Johnny, because it was popular in the US.

In 1949, Alf became a member of the Sinatra-Farney Fan Club and began performing at the club. He used to perform for hours, and listeners would beg him not to stop playing. Dick Farney opened the doors to his first job: pianist at Cantina do César, a piano bar in Copacabana.

Johnny Alf at the piano

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a man sitting at a piano. He is singing into a studio microphone. In the background, people are watching. The piano has several sheets of music open on it.

In 1953, Johnny Alf released a record with the song Rapaz de Bem, which, with its complexity and syncopated rhythm, is considered by some historians to be a precursor of Bossa Nova.

Between 1954 and 1955, he played at the Hotel Plaza bar, frequented by many musicians at the start of their careers, such as Tom Jobim, João Gilberto, and Dolores Duran. Tom Jobim would go to the Plaza to listen to Alf, who would go to Tudo Azul to watch Tom.

Although he was nicknamed Genialf, he never held a prominent position. Being Black, gay, and of poor origin in a racist, homophobic, and classist country, along with his reclusive personality, meant that he always remained in the background. His prestige never matched his genius. He spent his last years in a nursing home and died in 2010.

Johnny Alf died on March 4, 2010, in Santo André (SP). Photo: Rolling Stone Magazine

Image description: This is a photograph of a smiling man wearing an orange shirt. He is sitting in front of a piano, with his hands resting on the keys. In the background, we see a room with beige walls, doors, and a beautiful hanging chandelier.