Nelson Cavaquinho

Nelson Cavaquinho, born Nelson Antônio da Silva on October 29, 1911, in Rio de Janeiro, was a significant figure in Brazilian samba music. He started his musical journey with the cavaquinho, which gave him his stage name, but later switched to the guitar, developing a unique two-finger playing style. Nelson Cavaquinho grew up in a musical family; his father was a musician in the Military Police band, and his uncle played the violin. He married Alice Ferreira Neves in his twenties and had four children. He worked in the police force, which led him to the Mangueira hills, where he met iconic samba artists like Cartola and Carlos Cachaça. Over his career, Nelson composed more than 400 songs, including classics such as "A Flor e o Espinho" and "Folhas Secas," often collaborating with Guilherme de Brito. Despite financial difficulties that led him to sell songwriting credits, he maintained his passion for music. His first recorded song, "Não Faça Vontade a Ela," was released in 1939 but gained little attention. His career took off when Cyro Monteiro recorded several of his songs, and in the 1960s, he began performing publicly at Zicartola, a bar owned by Cartola and Dona Zica. In 1970, he released his first LP, Depoimento de Poeta. His songs often dealt with themes of life, love, and death, evident in tracks like "Rugas," "Quando Eu me Chamar Saudade," and "Juízo Final." He spent his later years with his partner Durvalina and passed away on February 18, 1986, due to emphysema. In 2011, Mangueira Samba School honored him on his centenary with the carnival theme "O Filho Fiel, Sempre Mangueira," reflecting his deep ties to the school and his legacy in samba music.