Photo: Harry Pot / CC BY 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Luiz Bonfá was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 17, 1922. Luiz Bonfá was credited as a composer, singer and jazz musician. Death is recorded on January 12, 2001, at the age of 78.
My Take
Luiz Bonfá occupies a special place for me because his guitar essentially helped define the sound of an entire nation. The music he composed for Black Orpheus fuses melancholy, sensuality, and celebration so seamlessly that it feels like Rio itself breathing. As a guitarist and composer he stood at the dawn of bossa nova, and even after his death in 2001 his melodies keep drifting through cafes and bars worldwide. That is the real test of greatness, music that outlives trends and its maker. I am genuinely in awe of artists who carry a whole culture in their hands.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Luiz Bonfá
- Name (Japanese)
- ルイス・ボンファ
- Reading
- るいす・ぼんふぁ
- Born
- October 17, 1922 – January 12, 2001
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Dog
- Origin
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Occupation
- composer / singer / guitarist / jazz musician / jazz guitarist
2. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luiz%20Bonf%C3%A1
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q932925
3. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Luiz Bonfá born?
Born October 17, 1922.
When did Luiz Bonfá die?
Died January 12, 2001, aged 78.
Where was Luiz Bonfá from?
Luiz Bonfá was from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
What did Luiz Bonfá do?
Luiz Bonfá worked as composer, singer, guitarist, jazz musician, jazz guitarist.
Composer — see all → · Singer — see all → · More people from Brazil →