Carlos do Carmo
Encyclopedia
Carlos do Carmo, ComIH (born Carlos Manuel de Ascenção de Almeida in Lisbon
, Mouraria, on 21 December 1939) is a Portuguese
fado
singer, one of the finest in the "Lisbon Song". He is the son of another fado singer and fado house owner, Lucília do Carmo (Lucília Nunes de Ascenção do Carmo, born in Portalegre on 4 November 1920 and died in 1999, daughter of Francisco).
In 1976 he won the Portuguese Song Contest, with "Uma flor de verde pinho
". The song finished 12th in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976
.
His most famous songs are Lágrimas de Orvalho, Lisboa Menina e Moça and Canoas do Tejo. He sang many songs written by songwriters like Ary dos Santos
. He helped to open Lisbon fado to other musical influences, like jazz
and French music
.
He has established his own reputation as a passionate singer of Portuguese folk songs, as well as one of the most distinctive voices in the world. Unfortunately obscured by the international fame of Amália Rodrigues
, he remained a national, rather than international, star. He first left Lisbon in his youth, to study hotel management in Switzerland
but, with the death of his father Alfredo de Almeida in 1962, do Carmo soon joined his mother to help her run their fado house, the Faia. In 1964 he married Maria Judite de Sousa Leal. Encouraged by his friends' response to his singing, do Carmo soon began to perform at the fado house. While fado remains at the core of his music, do Carmo has used Frank Sinatra
-style and French-style pop balladry and Brazilian bossa nova
to give his music its distinct flavor. His uniqueness, apart from the special timbre of his voice, is in his ability to bring composers from other styles such as jazz. This is mainly seen in his success Um Homem na Cidade, which although now known as a fado classic, has an obvious jazz chord progression.
His main successes came in the 70s, as he was one of the most prominent singers commemorating freedom during the Lisbon uprising of 1974
, along with Fernando Tordo
and Paulo de Carvalho
amongst others. In the 80s, his remarkable Um Homem no País was the first CD ever recorded in Portugal. He has worked closely and nurtured the development of other fado singers such as Mariza
and Camané
. Carlos is currently working towards making Fado part of UNESCO
's World Heritage Cultural Patrimony via countless concerts and the recording for Carlos Saura
's film on fado, which premiered in 2007 at the Toronto International Film Festival
. Performances in the Royal Albert Hall
, Paris Olympia
, Carnegie Hall
and Salle Pleyel
are just part of his vast gig curriculum. His great classics include Bairro Alto, Gaivota, Canoas Do Tejo, Os Putos and Estrela Da Tarde.
He was created a Commander of the Order of Prince Henry.
His children are singer Cila do Carmo de Almeida (born Lisbon), Alfredo do Carmo de Almeida and (not fado) singer Gil do Carmo de Almeida (born Lisbon, 21 June 1973).
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Mouraria, on 21 December 1939) is a Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
fado
Fado
Fado is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. Fado historian and scholar, Rui Vieira Nery, states that "the only reliable information on the history of Fado was orally transmitted and goes back to the 1820s and 1830s at best...
singer, one of the finest in the "Lisbon Song". He is the son of another fado singer and fado house owner, Lucília do Carmo (Lucília Nunes de Ascenção do Carmo, born in Portalegre on 4 November 1920 and died in 1999, daughter of Francisco).
In 1976 he won the Portuguese Song Contest, with "Uma flor de verde pinho
Uma Flor De Verde Pinho
"Uma flor de verde pinho" was the Portuguese entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed in Portuguese by Carlos do Carmo....
". The song finished 12th in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976
Eurovision Song Contest 1976
The Eurovision Song Contest 1976, the 21st in the series, was held in The Hague, Netherlands, on 3 April 1976. With Corry Brokken as the presenter – the first time a previous winner of the contest had played hostess – the contest was won by Brotherhood of Man, representing the United...
.
His most famous songs are Lágrimas de Orvalho, Lisboa Menina e Moça and Canoas do Tejo. He sang many songs written by songwriters like Ary dos Santos
Ary dos Santos
José Carlos Ary dos Santos, GCIH or just Ary dos Santos was one of the most relevant names of the Portuguese popular poetry of the 20th century....
. He helped to open Lisbon fado to other musical influences, like jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and French music
French music
French music may refer to:*The music of the French*French classical music*French folk music*In Canada, French music may rather refer to the music of the French-Canadians, most often the music of Quebec or Acadians...
.
He has established his own reputation as a passionate singer of Portuguese folk songs, as well as one of the most distinctive voices in the world. Unfortunately obscured by the international fame of Amália Rodrigues
Amália Rodrigues
Amália da Piedade Rodrigues, GCSE, GCIH, , also known as Amália Rodrigues was a Portuguese singer and actress.She was known as the "Rainha do Fado" and was most influential in popularizing the fado worldwide. She was one of the most important figures in the genre's development, and enjoyed a...
, he remained a national, rather than international, star. He first left Lisbon in his youth, to study hotel management in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
but, with the death of his father Alfredo de Almeida in 1962, do Carmo soon joined his mother to help her run their fado house, the Faia. In 1964 he married Maria Judite de Sousa Leal. Encouraged by his friends' response to his singing, do Carmo soon began to perform at the fado house. While fado remains at the core of his music, do Carmo has used Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
-style and French-style pop balladry and Brazilian bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
to give his music its distinct flavor. His uniqueness, apart from the special timbre of his voice, is in his ability to bring composers from other styles such as jazz. This is mainly seen in his success Um Homem na Cidade, which although now known as a fado classic, has an obvious jazz chord progression.
His main successes came in the 70s, as he was one of the most prominent singers commemorating freedom during the Lisbon uprising of 1974
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
, along with Fernando Tordo
Fernando Tordo
Fernando Tordo, born March 29, 1948 in Lisbon, Portugal, is a singer and composer. In 1969, he made his singing debut on Portuguese television, while competing to represent his country in the Eurovision Song Contest . He would try again for the next 3 years until he finally won in 1973, with his...
and Paulo de Carvalho
Paulo de Carvalho
Paulo de Carvalho is a Portuguese singer.Carvalho was a member of the band The Sheiks during the 1970s, and participated in the Festival RTP da Canção and Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 and 1977...
amongst others. In the 80s, his remarkable Um Homem no País was the first CD ever recorded in Portugal. He has worked closely and nurtured the development of other fado singers such as Mariza
Mariza
Mariza is the stage name of a popular fado singer. She was born Marisa dos Reis Nunes on 16 December 1973 in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique. At the time, Mozambique was known as the Portuguese Overseas Province of Mozambique....
and Camané
Camané
Camané is a male vocalist, and a forerunner of the new generation of fado male singers. "The greatest fadista since Amalia Rodrigues and Maria da Fe," is how British biographer David Bret, describes him....
. Carlos is currently working towards making Fado part of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's World Heritage Cultural Patrimony via countless concerts and the recording for Carlos Saura
Carlos Saura
Carlos Saura Atarés is a Spanish film director and photographer.-Early life:Born into a family of artists , he developed his artistic sense in childhood as a photography enthusiast.He obtained his directing diploma in Madrid in 1957 at the Institute of Cinema Research and Studies...
's film on fado, which premiered in 2007 at the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
. Performances in the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, Paris Olympia
Paris Olympia
The Olympia is a music hall in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Located at No. 28, Boulevard des Capucines, its closest métro/RER stations are Madeleine, Opéra, Havre – Caumartin and Auber....
, Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
and Salle Pleyel
Salle Pleyel
The Salle Pleyel is a concert hall in Paris, France. The resident ensembles are the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.-History and Design:...
are just part of his vast gig curriculum. His great classics include Bairro Alto, Gaivota, Canoas Do Tejo, Os Putos and Estrela Da Tarde.
He was created a Commander of the Order of Prince Henry.
His children are singer Cila do Carmo de Almeida (born Lisbon), Alfredo do Carmo de Almeida and (not fado) singer Gil do Carmo de Almeida (born Lisbon, 21 June 1973).