Augusto Abreu Fogo Island, 1890 – Sacramento (California), USA, 1965 Instrumentalist (violin), songwriter Augusto Abreu was a musician that lived in the U.S.A and lead a formation that bore his name, in an Americanized way: Abrew’s Portuguese Instrumental Trio. The trio was among the first groups formed by Cape Verdeans Read more…
Band (1920-1930) Between 1929 and 1935 some musical groups formed by Cape Verdeans recorded with Columbia Records in New York. The Abrew’s Portuguese Instrumental Trio was one of them. The others were the Johnny Perry’s Portuguese Criolo Trio and the Orchestra de Notias. They were probably the first Cape Verdean Read more…
Albert Oliveira Lopes New Bedford, USA, 1917 – New Bedford, EUA, 1988 Instrumentalist (strings), music publisher Enterprising musician that founded his own orchestra and label. Al Lopes is appointed by Joli Gonsalves in his text included in the book A Salute to the Cape Verdean Musicians and Their Music (Ron Read more…
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 Read more…
Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silver Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.A, 1928 – U.S.A, 2014 Instrumentalist (piano), songwriter The American pianist and songwriter, appointed as the creator of hard-bop and one of the biggest names in jazz since the 1950’s is a son of a Cape Verdean immigrant from the island of Maio Read more…
Paul Pena Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA, 1950 – San Francisco, California, USA, 2005 Instrumentalist (guitar), composer, singer “From all the sons of the Cape Verdean community in America that had some success in music, Paul Pena (originally Pina) is without a doubt the most intriguing and curious case”. Writes the journalist Read more…
John Pires Gonsalves New Bedford, USA, 1925 – New Bedford, USA, 1998 Singer, multi-instrumentalist, editor Joli Gonsalves is a son of parents from Brava, he was a prominent figure in the Cape Verdean community in the Massachusetts region. He developed activities as a musician, cultural animator, educator, broadcaster and founder Read more…
Paul Gonsalves Brockton, U.S.A, 1920 – London, United Kingdom 1974 Instrumentalist (saxophone) Paul Gonsalves is one of the biggest examples of a Cape Verdean descendant who developed a musical career in the host country – in his case, a brilliant career – that remains little known in Cape Verde. Son Read more…
Jeanne Oliver-Foster New Bedford, MA, (?) Educator Jeanne Oliver-Foster was a teacher for 42 years. The highlight of Jeanne’s career was teaching songs and background information from eight regions of the world, including the Caribbean, West Africa (including Cabo Verde), Europe, South America, East Asia, Eastern Europe, East Africa, and Read more…
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 Read more…