The dazzling virtuoso guitarist was born Rafael Baptista Rabello on October 31, 1962, to a family of musicians (six sisters and three brothers, including the talented cavaquinho player Luciana Rabello) in Petr≤polis, Rio de Janeiro. Rafael grew up in the neighborhood of Cosme Velho, near the Corcovado train station, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. In 1976 he formed the choro group Os Carioquinhas with his sister Luciana and at thirteen was already playing with some of the great choro masters.
In 1986, Rafael played with Ney Matogrosso in the show Pescador de PΘrolas, starting what was called "a duet" with the singer, which resulted in a recording and later - in 1991 - in another show and CD called A Flor da Pele. In 1989, he broke his right arm in a car accident, but four months later was playing with Elizeth Cardoso in the show - later also a CD - called Todo Sentimento. In 1991 he recorded a CD for Caju Music - who changed his name to Raphael - with the legendary seven-string guitarist Dino 7 Cordas and in 1992 a CD with songs by Tom Jobim which he transcribed and arranged for guitar. In 1992 he recorded another CD for Caju Music, Dois Irmπos, with clarinet virtuoso Paulo Moura, and in 1994 a solo CD with the music of Dilermando Reis, Canhoto and other choro composers.
Rafael played the guitar in the flamenco style (with the fingertips instead of the fingernails) and he used to say that the guitar was "an instrument for nuts, you play something different with each hand, with each finger. That drives you crazy." He was considered by many, including Pat Metheny, to be the preeminent guitarist of his generation and one of the greatest of all times. Others said that he was a prodigy, technically perfect, the type of musician that appears once in every century.
Rafael leaves his wife, Liana and two daughters, Diana and Rachel.
We will miss you, Rafael!