Paul Pena

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…

Joli Gonsalves

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

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

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…

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 Read more…

Flash Tavares

Feliciano Vierra Tavares  Providence, Rhode Island, USA, 1920 – Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA, 2008  Instrumentalist (guitar), singer  Flash Tavares, descendent of father from Santiago and mother from São Nicolau, had a long musical career among the Cape Verdean community in New England, several times accompanied his sister, Vickie Vierra. He is Read more…

Tavares Brothers

Music Band, 1950  The Tavares Brothers, formed by Cape Verdean descendants was a big success in the USA during the 70’s and 80’s in the context of soul music, R&B, and funk, but it was in the beginning of the disco era that their biggest hit was released: they recorded Read more…

Jackie Santos

Joaquim Santos  New Bedford, U.S.A [50’s]  Instrumentalist (drums, percussion), teacher. Percussionist Jackie Santos performed several years as a studio and stage musician, accompanied many musicians and bands, including the legend Chuck Berry, pioneer of rock, and the Tavares Brothers, the Cape Verdean descent group in the U.S. that had its Read more…

Henry Santos

Henry J. Santos   USA, 1927- USA, 2020  Professor, researcher, instrumentalist (piano), compositor Henry J. Santos was a professor at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, for over 30 years, and had an important role in the development of music courses in the university. He is emeritus professor at BSU. As Read more…

Norberto Tavares

Norberto dos Santos Tavares Assomada, Santiago, 1956 – New Bedford, EUA, 2010 Multiinstrumentista, cantor, compositor Norberto dos Santos Tavares was born in Assomada, Santiago Island in 1956 and died in New Bedford, USA in 2010. He was an instrumentalist, singer and composer. He is considered a reference to artists from Read more…