Fado Route

6 November 1934 - 27 February 2015 (Classical and Portuguese guitar player)

One of the most remarkable Portuguese musicians who for three decades performed alongside the sublime guitarist Carlos Paredes. Their combined work constitutes a milestone in the history of Portuguese music. Alvim explored several musical genres, namely jazz and bossa nova, but it is in fado that he remains a figure of major importance. As a classical guitar player he accompanied various generations of fado singers.

20 December 1928 - 12 February 1988 (Singer, lyricist and composer)

A resident of the Bica neighbourhood in Lisbon as a child, Fernando Farinha started singing fado at such a young age – just 9 years old – that he became known as the "kid from Bica". As he lost his father at the age of 11, he obtained a special licence to work as a professional fado singer and thus help to support his family with his earnings. Besides singing and charming audiences with his voice and performances, during his career he also wrote and composed various songs for fado. A street in Lisbon was named after him.

21 November 1933 - 15 July 2003 (Singer)

He was born in Rua do Capelão, where the mythical Severa also lived. He grew up listening to and singing fado in the heart of Mouraria. At 13, he began his professional career. Gifted with one of the most original voices in fado, Fernando Maurício earned the title of "king of fado and Mouraria" during his life. He had a brilliant career, recognised by the public and his peers.

20 September 1926 - 15 August 2011 (Guitarist and composer)

A distinguished performer and composer, Fontes Rocha introduced a number of improvements to the sound of the Portuguese guitar, a feat for which his huge talent was universally acknowledged. In the 1960s, he played for Amália Rodrigues, with whom he toured all around the world. He was responsible for the musical arrangements and for the sound of Amália’s album "Com que Voz", one of the diva’s most acclaimed fado recordings.

1894 - 1977 (Composer and lyricist)

Poet and composer of some of the most performed fado songs, Frederico de Brito became one of the most in-demand lyricists of his generation. He also wrote and composed for theatre and the Lisbon folk parades, and it is believed that, by the end of his long life, he had written over a thousand lyrics and several hundred songs. "Fado do Britinho", "Janela Virada para o Mar" and "Canoas do Tejo" are some of his most famous creations.