João Maria Tudela
Encyclopedia
João Maria Tudela was a Portuguese
singer, musician and entertainer.
, the capital of the Portuguese African territory of Mozambique in 1929. His father's family was wealthy with noble ancestors; Tudela's grandmother gave to his father a part of her patrimony when he married Tudela'a mother. While in Mozambique with his young parents, his father fled the territory for the United Kingdom
on a cruise ship
, after he fell in love with a British woman (Tudela would only see his father again as a 16-year old student in Coimbra
; his mother would marry another man that Tudela would always call his "father"). Tudela described his biological father as a "prince" who a premature marriage at 18 years had turned into an emotionally unstable person. He spent his early youth studying in South Africa
and in his home-town of Lourenço Marques where he started to play as a soloist at the Liceu Salazar (Salazar High School). He played piano, guitar, and viola without even knowing music. He went to Coimbra, first as a secondary school (high school) student and then as a student of the Coimbra University Law School. In Coimbra he joined the academic music groups and, thou his studies did not progress and he did not graduate, his artistic talent was developed. Due to his scarce interest and lack of results at the university, his family imposed his return back to Mozambique after four years with little academic progress. Tudela worked first for the insurance company Companhia de Seguros Império and then in Shell
, where he remained for a decade as a sales manager. By this time he developed his talent as a tennis player, becoming one of the best athletes of Mozambique in that sport. But João Maria Tudela's passion for music was huge and he never stopped singing, especially the Coimbra fado
, and his fame became large in the whole of Mozambique. He also became interested in African music and rhythm. In subsequent years he continued to write and act in Mozambique, starting a partnership with the orchestra of Dan Hill
. In 1959 João Maria Tudela created his first and most successful song ever, Kanimambo, which made a big career in mainland Portugal, the United States and in South America. Always defending his status as amateur, he was invited to a tour in Brazil. In the return of this tour he performed through Portugal with great success, and a few months later he returned to stay definitely as a professional. In the early sixties, João Maria Tudela entered the Portuguese art scene by the big door. His elegant style had earned him a legion of fans, and a career crowned with numerous awards, including the Critics Prize for Best TV in 1962. In 1968 he sang Ao Vento e às Andorinhas in the Festival RTP da Canção
. During the same year, after being barred from returning to RTP
following the interpretation of Cama 4, Sala 5, written by José Carlos Ary dos Santos and Nuno Nazareth Fernandes, Tudela resolves to end his career. The last years of his artistic career are marked by an increasing demand on the themes (lyrics and compositions), and a more critical approach to the policies of the Estado Novo regime. After the Carnation revolution
(1974), Tudela only acted as an entertainer in a few RTP TV shows and theatre and casino performances.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
singer, musician and entertainer.
History
João Maria Tudela was born in Lourenço MarquesMaputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, the capital of the Portuguese African territory of Mozambique in 1929. His father's family was wealthy with noble ancestors; Tudela's grandmother gave to his father a part of her patrimony when he married Tudela'a mother. While in Mozambique with his young parents, his father fled the territory for the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on a cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
, after he fell in love with a British woman (Tudela would only see his father again as a 16-year old student in Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
; his mother would marry another man that Tudela would always call his "father"). Tudela described his biological father as a "prince" who a premature marriage at 18 years had turned into an emotionally unstable person. He spent his early youth studying in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and in his home-town of Lourenço Marques where he started to play as a soloist at the Liceu Salazar (Salazar High School). He played piano, guitar, and viola without even knowing music. He went to Coimbra, first as a secondary school (high school) student and then as a student of the Coimbra University Law School. In Coimbra he joined the academic music groups and, thou his studies did not progress and he did not graduate, his artistic talent was developed. Due to his scarce interest and lack of results at the university, his family imposed his return back to Mozambique after four years with little academic progress. Tudela worked first for the insurance company Companhia de Seguros Império and then in Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
, where he remained for a decade as a sales manager. By this time he developed his talent as a tennis player, becoming one of the best athletes of Mozambique in that sport. But João Maria Tudela's passion for music was huge and he never stopped singing, especially the Coimbra fado
Coimbra Fado
Coimbra Fado is a genre of fado originating in the city of Coimbra, Portugal. It was adopted as the music of the university students of this city, also known as Student Fado , but is usually considered the typical music of Coimbra itself.It is performed with the traditional Guitarra de Coimbra...
, and his fame became large in the whole of Mozambique. He also became interested in African music and rhythm. In subsequent years he continued to write and act in Mozambique, starting a partnership with the orchestra of Dan Hill
Dan Hill
Daniel Grafton "Dan" Hill IV is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter. He had two major hits with his songs, "Sometimes When We Touch" and "Can't We Try," a duet with Vonda Shepard.-Early life and career:...
. In 1959 João Maria Tudela created his first and most successful song ever, Kanimambo, which made a big career in mainland Portugal, the United States and in South America. Always defending his status as amateur, he was invited to a tour in Brazil. In the return of this tour he performed through Portugal with great success, and a few months later he returned to stay definitely as a professional. In the early sixties, João Maria Tudela entered the Portuguese art scene by the big door. His elegant style had earned him a legion of fans, and a career crowned with numerous awards, including the Critics Prize for Best TV in 1962. In 1968 he sang Ao Vento e às Andorinhas in the Festival RTP da Canção
Festival RTP da Canção
Festival da Canção or Festival RTP da Canção is the name given to the national festival, produced and broadcast by Rádio e Televisão de Portugal to choose the Portuguese entry for the Eurovision Song Contest....
. During the same year, after being barred from returning to RTP
Rádio e Televisão de Portugal
Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, S.A.,commonly known as RTP, is Portugal's public service broadcasting organization. It operates four terrestrial television channels and three national radio channels, as well as several satellite and cable offerings....
following the interpretation of Cama 4, Sala 5, written by José Carlos Ary dos Santos and Nuno Nazareth Fernandes, Tudela resolves to end his career. The last years of his artistic career are marked by an increasing demand on the themes (lyrics and compositions), and a more critical approach to the policies of the Estado Novo regime. After the Carnation revolution
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...
(1974), Tudela only acted as an entertainer in a few RTP TV shows and theatre and casino performances.