Vickie Vierra
Victoria Tavares Vierra
Providence, U.S.A, 1925 – Providence, U.S.A, 2013
Singer
Vickie Vierra grew up in Fox Point in Providence, in a family with several brothers – Flash Tavares being one of them, father of the members of the Tavares Brothers. Vickie started singing at an early age, animating parties and events in the Cape Verdean community, but in her youth, she was only allowed to participate in groups in which her brother played. They both sang and sometimes did duets, interpreting Cape Verdean songs or themes of north American jazz.
Vickie got inspiration from the jazz divas that she listened to in the radio and TV to create her own style, in which Cape Verdean music takes on a swing that makes it peculiarly American-Cape Verdean.
In the 1950’s, Flash left for São Francisco and Vickie kept performing with other groups formed by Cape Verdeans, having traveled all over the east coast of the U.S.A.
After this phase she returned to her home state and Flash came back from California. So, the two siblings started singing together again, for many years – some videos show them singing together at an older age.
In different moments, Vickie Vierra performed with Skyliners Big Band and Creole Sextet. She recorded an album with Phill Barboza’s orchestra. Among other events, in 1995 she participated in the American Folklike Festival of Smithsonian Institute and in the following year in the So Sabi Festival, promoted by the Boston Center for the Arts, during which the CD So Sabi: Cape Verdean Music from New England was recorded, in which she participates.
Discography
- Participation in the LP Paul Gonsalves and Phill Barboza Latin Orchestra.
- Participation in the CD So Sabi – Cape Verdean music from New England, 1999.
