Jonjoca

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

João de Freitas Ferreira

Years Active

1930–1953

Genres

samba

Biography

João de Freitas Ferreira, known artistically as Jonjoca, was a Brazilian singer and songwriter who left his mark on the country's popular music, especially in the samba genre. Born in Rio de Janeiro on September 16, 1911, Jonjoca began his artistic career early, at the age of 18, recording his first record in 1930 for Odeon, featuring the sambas "Não te dou perdão" and "Não fui eu". His voice bore a remarkable resemblance to that of Mário Reis, which led him to form a duo with Castro Barbosa, who in turn had a voice similar to Francisco Alves's. This duo, Jonjoca and Castro Barbosa, became Victor's record label response to the famous partnership of Alves and Reis, releasing several hits between 1931 and 1933.

Throughout his career, Jonjoca recorded around 23 records with approximately 43 songs, 13 of which he authored. In addition to his work as a singer, he also composed for other artists, such as Carmen Miranda, who in 1931 recorded his sambas "Não tens razão" and "E depois". His musical career was interrupted in 1934, but Jonjoca did not completely step away from the artistic universe. He returned to the scene as a radio announcer in 1937, working for major stations such as Rádio Mayrink Veiga, Rádio Nacional, and Rádio Clube do Brasil, where he worked as an announcer, host, and program producer until 1953.

Jonjoca also ventured into politics, getting elected as a city councilman in Rio de Janeiro in 1950. Throughout his life, he remained sporadically present in the media, granting television interviews between 1955 and 2002. The artist passed away in Rio de Janeiro on June 19, 2006, at the age of 94, leaving an important legacy in the history of Brazilian samba, with songs that echo the richness and poetry of the era.