Fado Route

14 March 1923 (Singer)

Fado runs through the veins of this fado singer, the sister of Amália Rodrigues. She began singing early amongst friends and, one day, a businessman, owner of various typical fado houses, heard her and decided to convince her to go professional. Her talent soon brought her popularity. She has sung at the best fado houses and was once the owner of one, Viela. At the height of her career, with many international tours under her belt, she was invited to record at the BBC in London. She is one of the leading figures of her generation. 

1 January 1944 (Singer)

In Cidália Moreira's case, the word "performance" can be applied in the purest of senses. Owner of a powerful voice, she not only projects it as she sings but performs each lyric with so much emotion that it is impossible not to be touched. In that sense, Cidália is one of the most unique singers within the world of fado, with a style that is unmistakable.

3 August 1902 - 16 November 1985 (Singer)

The first fado singer to reach international fame within the Portuguese emigrant communities. Her first recordings date from 1929. She was known as the "saint of fado" due to her habit of singing with her hands pressed together. She popularised songs such as "Amor de Mãe", "o Meu Filho", "Juro" and "Fado da Amargura".

7 May 1919 - 25 July 2008 (Singer)

Still active at the age of 87, when she was part of the cast of a musical, a field in which she was regularly involved during her career. It was on the stages of vaudeville – a type of musical show that was very popular in Lisbon – that she established herself as a great fado singer with a powerful voice and a charismatic stage presence.

6 February 1937 (Singer)

She inherited a love of fado from her father. Listening to him sing, as an amateur, for his friends, she picked up the gift and took the first steps in a career that saw her perform at the main venues of the world of fado. In 1964, she opened one of the most famous fado houses, Lisboa à Noite, where some of the genre’s greatest perfomers appeared. She possesses an unmistakable voice.