B-29 Band/Star Orchestra 

Group, 1920-1949 

B-29 was a string instrument group formed by Cape Verdean immigrants in New Bedford and existed for more than two decades. They played Cape Verdean and North American music, animating dances and parties in clubs, hotels and other venues, in addition to performing in radio studios. It is contemporary of other Cape Verdean string groups of that time such as Abrew’s Portuguese Instrumental Trio, of Augusto Abreu and the Orchestra de Notias.  

According to the book A salute to the Cape Verdean musicians and their music (Ron Barboza, 1989), this group set a trend that was followed by the Cape Verdean big bands, Creole Vagabonds (Duke Oliver’s Creole Vagabonds) and The Don Verdi Orchestra, at a time where there was a series of changes in performance standards, types of music performed and instruments used.  

The book mentions the names of its members – Manuel Sylvia, Manuel DaLuz, Frank Rogers, Benjamin Livramento, Joseph Santos, Manuel Britto, Epifanio Ramos and Peter Grace – and states that in 1940 B-29 merged in the Cape Verde Ultramarine Band Club – possibly assuming then its other name, Star Orchestra. A photo in the New Bedford Newspaper shows it with eleven members. Other images show it in 1945 and 1949, with other formations, which is natural due to its long duration. 

Collaborated in the research: Ron Barboza