Francisco de Morais Alves (August 19, 1898 – September 27, 1952), better known as Francisco Alves, Chico Alves or Chico Viola, was a Brazilian singer, one of the most popular in the first half of the 20th century, and considered by many to be the greatest in the country.
[1] The quality of his work earned him in 1933, by broadcaster César Ladeira, the nickname "Rei da Voz" (Voice King).
[2] He recorded more than 500 78 rpm albums,[3] among them the first electrical recording made in Brazil.
He performed songs composed by musicians such as Cartola, Heitor dos Prazeres and Ismael Silva; and several songs became famous in his voice, like the first recording of samba "Aquarela do Brasil" by Ary Barroso.
[4] Alves died in a car accident at the Rodovia Presidente Dutra, near Pindamonhangaba, on September 27, 1952.