 In June 1957 the American trombone player Melba Liston invited thirteen-year-old Mariano to participate in her concert at a jazz club in Rio de Janeiro, and he appeared in a program on Rio's Globo Radio called "The Boy Prodigy Who Plays Jazz".Thar same year, Mariano met Johnny Alf, who went to live with Mariano's family due to their great friendship.Together at the family home in São Paulo, Mariano became familiar with arranging, composing, and the arts of cinema and theatre, thanks to Johnny Alf's encouragement.