Son of the violeiro (Brazilian viola player), repentista (verse improviser), and harmonica player Severino Alves de Souza, Ataulfo Alves (Ataulfo Alves de Sousa - May 2,1909 Miraí/MG - April 20,1969 Rio de Janeiro) at age eight already was responding in verses to his father's desafios (cutting contests). Becoming an orphan at age ten, he worked in several jobs, moving to Rio in 1927. There he continued to work, frequenting rodas de samba in his leisure hours.

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