António Neves

Norte-Casinhas, S. Nicolau, [?]

Producer, record label owner

An entrepreneur in the travel and tourism industry, Tony Neves began releasing records in 1996 under NT&T (Neves Travel and Tours), the same name as his travel agency based in New Bedford. Zerui Depina, Djosinha, Nho Raul de Pina, Belinda, and the groups Pai e filhos, Oasis, and Uprising are among the artists who released records through this label, NT&T was also responsible for transferring the historic PAIGC album Música Cabo-verdiana – Protesto e Luta to CD, although it was released under the name of Nho Balta, one of the participants, with the title Nova Aurora.

Later, releases apeared under the Somuzica label, during a period in which brothers Adriano and Nhela Santos recorded the album Formidável – Reencontro III, in tribute to Luís Morais. Tributes to Bana, Ildo Lobo, Zeca di Nha Reinalda, and Teté Alhinho, among others, have also been part of Tony Neves’s activities within the Cabo Verdean Community in Massachussets. In 1995, he promoted the last U.S. tour by Os Tubarões before the group went on hiatus for approximately 20 years. In the opposite direction, for several years he arranged for various artists based in the United States to participate in the Gamboa and Sal festivals in Cabo Verde.

Among his other music-related activities, Tony Neves also brought the group Kassav to perform in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2015 and 2016.

Another aspect of his involvement with the Community was related to soccer, in which he worked as a player and coach, and also, during several years he periodically took a Cabo Verdean team from the United States to compete against fellow Cabo Verdeans living in the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Later, under the name NT&T Productions, Tony Neves expanded into other activities, particularly events promoting tourism and investment in Cabo Verde, such as the fairs Hello Cabo Verde, in 2011, and Back to the Roots, in 2013.

Before emigrating, after completing high school in São Vicente, Neves worked for four years at the Institute of Meteorologyon the island of Sal. He left for the United States in 1984 and settled in New Bedford. He attended college studying languages and subsequently travel and tourism, at the University of Massachussets (Umass Dartmouth). In 1991 he founded his company.