Dick Farney

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1937–1987

Genres

bossa nova, jazz, MPB, samba

Instruments

piano, vocals

Biography

Dick Farney, born Farnésio Dutra e Silva in Rio de Janeiro, was a prominent Brazilian singer, pianist, and composer whose career spanned several decades. He began his musical journey in childhood, studying classical piano with his father and vocal performance with his mother, before making his radio debut in 1937. Throughout the 1940s, he gained widespread recognition as a crooner in Rio de Janeiro's nightlife and even traveled to the United States, where he performed on NBC radio programs and recorded notable jazz themes.

As his style evolved, Farney became a crucial precursor to the Bossa Nova movement by skillfully blending samba and jazz influences. His 1956 live album, recorded in the style of Broadway, marked a significant milestone in Brazilian popular music. He collaborated with numerous esteemed artists throughout his career, including Norma Bengell, Lúcio Alves, and Baden Powell, cementing his legacy as a sophisticated interpreter of both American standards and Brazilian compositions.

In his later years, Farney remained active by performing in prominent nightclubs, hosting television programs, and recording extensive catalogues of jazz and romantic music. He owned several notable venues in São Paulo, where he continued to play piano and sing until his passing in 1987. His enduring influence is celebrated by generations of musicians who admire his smooth vocal delivery and elegant piano style.

Discography

• Musica Romantica Com (1954)
• Dick Farney na Broadway (1954)
• Dick Farney - Trio (1956)
• Atendendo A Pedidos (1958)
• Concêrto de Jazz no Auditório do "O Globo" (1960)
• Canções para a Noite de Meu Bem (1960)
• Dick Farney com Simonetti e Orquestra RGE – Dick Farney Show (1961)
• Dick Farney e Booker Pittman – Jam Session das Folhas (1961)
• Jazz (1962)
• Dick Farney (1964)
• Dick Farney: Piano Orquestra: Gaya (1966)
• De Aloysio de Oliveira (1967)
• Os Grandes Sucessos de Dick Farney (1969)
• Copacabana (1969)
• Penumbra Romance (1972)
• As Duas Maneiras de Dick Farney: Dick em Ipanema / Dick na Broadway (1972)
• Dick Farney (1973)
• Um Piano ao Cair da Tarde (1974)
• Dick Farney e Você (1974)
• Dick Farney (1975)
• Um Piano ao Cair da Tarde Nº 2 (1975)
• Dick & Claudette – Tudo Isto É Amor (1976)
• Dick & Claudette – Tudo Isto É Amor Vol. 2 (1977)
• Dick Farney Plays Gershwin (1978)
• Dick Farney (1978)
• História do Jazz em São Paulo (1978)
• Dick Farney, José Alves, Amilton Godoy, Felix Wagner – Um Piano ao Cair da Tarde - Internacional - Volume 1 (1979)
• Noite (1981)
• Feliz de Amor (1983)
• Dick Farney Ao Vivo (1987)
• Ao Vivo: A Arte do Espetáculo (1992)
• Solo (1997)
• Reserva Especial (2000)
• Enciclopédia Musical Brasileira (2001)
• No Palco! (2004)
• The Eternally Stylish Dick Farney (2007)
• Tenderly (2016)
• Primeiras Gravações (2020)
• Fazer a América (2022)
• As Canções da Praia de Copacabana Copia - Dick Farney a Voz do Jazz Brasileiro (2023)
• Meu Rio de Janeiro - Dick Farney Classic Sambas (2024)
• Russell Bennett And His Orchestra, Dick Farney, Ray Heatherton, Lee Wiley With Orchestra – America's Favorite Songs By George Gershwin
• There's No Sweeter Word Than Sweetheart
• Lembrança do Passado