Alves was born on 2 May 1909, in the town of
Miraí, in the
Zona da Mata region of
Minas Gerais. He was one of seven children to guitarist, accordionist, and repentista "Capitão" Severino. By age 8, Ataulfo had begun to write his own lyrics. He worked various odd jobs while in school, such as a milk deliveryman, cattle steerer, suitcase carrier, shoeshiner, cabinetmaker, and farmer. His father died when he was 10. His mother, soon after, moved with her children to the center of town. At 18 years old, Alves moved to
Rio de Janeiro, accompanying a doctor with whom he worked each day as an assistant at his pharmacy. At 19, he played the
violão,
cavaquinho, and the bandolim. At 20 years old, he began to compose and became director of harmony with
Fale Quem Quiser, a bloco organized by people within the neighbourhood of
Rio Comprido. Alves died in Rio de Janeiro due to an ulcer worsening after surgery. He died only a few days before his 60th birthday. On the anniversary of his birth, in Miraí, in 2009, the city promoted the construction of a mausoleum to shelter his remains and his relatives that have since passed. The memorial is located at São Francisco de Assis cemetery. There is also a memorial collection of the composer in the city, inaugurated in 2005. The permanent exhibition contains objects that had once belonged to Alves and images of his life, alongside personalities from the national and international scenes, and of national politics. In 2009, he was posthumously awarded the
Ordem do Mérito Cultural. In 2017, with the creation of the Academia Miraiense de Letras, Alves received a posthumous tribute, being proclaimed Perpetrual Patron on the second seat, referencing his birthdate of 2 May. == Biggest hits ==