Biography Chronology

1897 – Alfredo da Rocha Viana Filho is born on April 23.

1911 – Pixinguinha starts to have classes with Irineu de Almeida, or Irineu Batina (Cassock), and starts playing professionally.

1914 – His first composition, the tango “Dominante,” (Dominant) is published by Casa Carlos Wehrs; along with João Pernambuco, Donga, Caninha, and other musicians he forms the Grupo do Caxangá.

1915 – His first songs are recorded: the tango “Dominante” by Bloco dos Parafusos, Odeon label, and the songs “Carne Assada” (Roasted Beef) and “Não Tem Nome,” (It has no name) by Grupo Choro Carioca, Phoenix label.

1917 – Pixinguinha composes “Carinhoso” (Affectionate).

1919 – Together with Donga, China, and other musicians, he creates the group called Os Oito Batutas, and composes “Um a Zero” (1-0); the samba “Já Te Digo” (I’ll tell you in a moment) (Pixinguinha and China) becomes a great Carnival hit.

1922 – The Batutas go to France and Argentina.

1923 – Along with the Oito Batutas he records thirteen songs for the Victor label, of Buenos Aires.

1926 – Pixinguinha debuts as orchestrator and conductor of the Companhia Negra de Revista.

1928 – He forms the Orquestra Típica Pixinguinha-Donga and composes “Lamentos” (Laments).

1932 – Along with Donga, João Pernambuco, and other musicians, he creates the Grupo da Velha Guarda.

1936 – Braguinha, or João de Barro, writes the lyrics to “Carinhoso.”

1937 – Orlando Silva records “Carinhoso” (Pixinguinha and João de Barro) and “Rosa” (Rose) (Pixinguinha and Otávio de Souza).

1946 – Pixinguinha begins his partnership with flutist Benedito Lacerda.

1956 – The bill creating Rua Pixinguinha is approved, in the district of Olaria, Rio de Janeiro.

1973 – Pixinguinha dies from heart problems during the christening ceremony of Rodrigo Otávio, son of his friend Euclides de Souza Lima, which was being held at the Church Nossa Senhora da Paz, in Ipanema, on a Carnival Sunday.

Álbum de família

 

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