Francisco Mattoso

Origin

Petrópolis, RJ

Years active

1930–1941

Genres

mpb, valsa, samba

Instruments

piano

Biography

Francisco de Queirós Mattoso was born in Petrópolis in April 1913, showing early musical talent by picking out tunes on the piano by ear at the age of five. Although he originally pursued a career in law and graduated as a lawyer, he ultimately abandoned the profession to dedicate himself fully to popular Brazilian music as a composer and pianist. During his lifetime, he collaborated with major figures of the era such as Noel Rosa and Lamartine Babo, crafting enduring classics of the Brazilian radio golden age.

Throughout the 1930s, Mattoso established a prolific partnership with composer José Maria de Abreu, alongside whom he wrote some of his most celebrated works. His compositions were interpreted by legendary interpreters of Brazilian popular music, including Francisco Alves, Orlando Silva, and Aurora Miranda. Among his greatest achievements are the waltz "Boa Noite, Amor," the fox-canção "Pegando Fogo," and the iconic waltz "Eu sonhei que tu estavas tão linda," written in partnership with Lamartine Babo.

Tragically, his career was cut short when he was debilitated by tuberculosis, leading to his premature death in Rio de Janeiro in December 1941 at the age of 28. Despite his brief life, his musical legacy endured through subsequent decades, with his timeless compositions being revived and recorded by modern artists such as Gal Costa and Tim Bernardes.