Fado Route

10 January 1921 (Guitarist)

He played guitar in public for the first time at the age of 9 and by the age of 18 was already performing beside established musicians. He accompanied Amália on various tours around the world, as well as other important figures from fado. At the end of the 1950s, he formed the Raul Nery Guitar Group composed by four exceptional musicians: Raul Nery, José Fontes Rocha, Júlio Gomes and Joel Pina. He is unanimously considered to be one of the finest ever players of the Portuguese guitar.

11 January 1985 (Singer)

She began frequenting fado evenings at an early age and, although not born in Alfama, it was to this neighbourhood that she moved as soon as she was old enough. She recorded her first album in 2006, which earned her the "Amália Rodrigues" prize for new talent. Though considered a traditional singer of fado, her style has a freshness that brings something new with every new verse she sings. 

26 July 1820 - 30 November 1846 (Singer)

Maria Severa Onofriana is a mythical figure within fado. She earned fame under the name of Severa and is considered to be the first fado singer for which records exist. Her affair with an aristocrat, the Count of Vimioso, also contributed to her fame. Born into the bosom of a humble family living in the Madragoa quarter, Severa supported herself by working as a prostitute and singer. The house where she lived and later died in Rua do Capelão, in the Mouraria neighbourhood, is today marked with a plaque to her memory.

18 July 1927 - 10 January 1978 (Singer)

He was only 9 years old when he was paid to sing for the first time. And from that moment he never stopped pursuing his dream to become a professional fado singer, which he achieved at the age of 27 when two songs brought him stardom: "Nem às Paredes Confesso" and "Maria Morena". Throughout his career, he took part in various radio programmes and sang at the most famous fado houses. His deep and romantic voice captivated millions.

7 May 1929 - 28 May 2016 (Singer and composer)

An aristocrat by birth, Vicente da Câmara, like other members of his family, helped to prolong the tradition of the aristocratic fado singer. He had a great uncle and an aunt who were fado singers and one of their children, José da Câmara, also had the same vocation. Besides being an excellent singer, he was also a notable lyricist. He achieved his greatest success with "A Moda das Tranças Pretas".