Nelson Cavaquinho, born Nelson Antônio da Silva on October 29, 1911, in Rio de
Janeiro, was a significant figure in Brazilian samba music. He started his
musical journey with the cavaquinho, which gave him his stage name, but later
switched to the guitar, developing a unique two-finger playing style. Nelson
Cavaquinho grew up in a musical family; his father was a musician in the
Military Police band, and his uncle played the violin. He married Alice Ferreira
Neves in his twenties and had four children. He worked in the police force,
which led him to the Mangueira hills, where he ...