The music world has suffered another great loss. Johnny Alf, a founder of Bossa Nova music, died in a Santo André hospital of multiple organ failure. His death in Brazil on Thursday, March 6, 2010, was a result of the musician’s battle with advanced prostate cancer.

On May 19, 1929, Alf was born in Rio de Janeiro under the name, Alfredo Jose da Silva. He was proficient on the piano and his forte in early American jazz greatly influenced his Bossa Nova work. He completed 9 solo records but appeared on 46 albums. His 1955 hit songs “Rapaz de bem” and “O Tempo e o vento” are said by many to be the start of Bossa Nova and has widely influenced later stars. A definitive history of the genre was written by Ruy Castro, who called Alf the “true father of Bossa Nova.” His other successes include “Decision” and “Girl of my city.”

The musician’s health began deteriorating in his last six months of life while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Despite of his illness, he would still continue to make presentations with an energy that his manager, Nelson Valencia, described as “spiritual” and “calm.” Johnny Alf was 80 years of age.