Álvaro Carrilho

Origin

Santo Antônio de Pádua, RJ

Also known as

Álvaro de Aquino Carrilho

Years active

1940s–2010s

Genres

choro, mpb, instrumental music

Instruments

flute

Biography

Álvaro de Aquino Carrilho was a Brazilian flutist and composer, born on August 5, 1930, in Santo Antônio de Pádua, Rio de Janeiro, and who passed away on August 23, 2017, in Rio de Janeiro. He hailed from a large and musically inclined family, with his brother Altamiro Carrilho also becoming a renowned flutist. Álvaro's musical journey began with a bamboo flute, and he showed an early aptitude for playing choros, even composing pieces like "Chorando em Barbacena" at a young age.

In 1943, Carrilho moved to Rio de Janeiro with his family. His musical career gained momentum after he retired from his primary profession in 1981, allowing him to dedicate more time to music. He performed in various venues, including bars, theaters, and public squares. During the 1970s, he also performed on Rádio Guanabara, accompanying singers like Claudete Soares and Ellen de Lima, and sharing the stage with musicians such as Baden Powell. His compositions from this period include "Na Sombra da Caramboleira" and "Tangerina."

Carrilho was a co-founder of the Escola Portátil de Música in 2000, an institution dedicated to preserving and promoting choro music. He also formed a group with notable musicians like Índio do Cavaquinho and Valter 7 Cordas, leading to the recording of his first album, which was the inaugural release for Acari Records, a label specializing in choro. His work often featured his own compositions as well as collaborations with his brother Altamiro Carrilho and other artists like Gerson Mesquita and Wellington Santos.