Biography:
Amália
da Piedade Rodrigues was born in Lisbon, July 23rd or (July 1st.). Official documents
state Amália was born on July 23,1920. Though she always remained adamant
that she had been born July1st.
Biography:
Amália
da Piedade Rodrigues was born in Lisbon, July 23rd or (July 1st.). Official documents
state Amália was born on July 23,1920. Though she always remained adamant
that she had been born July1st.
Educated by her grandmother, Amália first sang in public as a nine year-old at the primary school she attended. After leaving the primary school she began working as an embroiderer, and sold fruit on the streets of Lisbon. Later she worked at a Lisbon cake factory and in Cais in a souvenir store with her mother and sister.
In 1935, she performed at the Alcântara Parade benefit, being the first occasion that her singing was accompanied by a guitar. Four years later, Amália made her debut at the Retiroda Severa, with the major performers of that era, singing three Fado interpretations.
On June 25, 1940, Amália was the star attraction of a recital entitled, Ora Vai Tu!, (Listen You Go!) at the Maria Vitório Theater, heralding the beginning of a lengthy career as Portugal's diva of Fado.
Amália Rodrigues first appeared outside of Portugal
on February 7, 1943, when she was invited by Ambassador
Pedro Teotónio Pereira, to give a performance in Madrid. In September of that
following year she traveled to Brazil, performing at the Copacabana Casino.
Amália Rodrigues made her first recordings (79 rotation per minute single) in 1945 in a Brazilian studio, under the Continental record company label.
Her big screen debut (May 16 1947) was in the film "Capas Negras," (Black Capes) a film that beat all existing box office records, exhibited for 22 consecutive weeks at the Condos cinema theater in Lisbon.
In February, 1948, she received the SNI best actress award for her performance in the movie entitled "Fado, História De Uma Cantadeir" ("Faith, Story of a Singer") In April of the following year she sang in Paris and London for the first time in musical festivals organized by the Department of Tourism.
In September, 1950, she was one of the principal performers in the Marshall Plan Shows earmarked for Europe.
Amalia's debut in 1951 in the movie entitled "Vendaval Maravilhoso," (Marvelous Vendaval) by Leitão de Barros. Amália, considered this film to be her favorite, that she participated in.
A year later she made her first recording in a Portuguese Studio, and went on a worldwide tour which included venues such as Lourenço Marques (Maputo) in Mozambique, Angola and the Belgian Congo. In 1952 she performed for 14 consecutive weeks in New York, and made her first recordings for the EMI record label in a London studio.
In a return visit to the North American continent in 1953, she performed in Mexico city and made her television debut on the Eddie Fisher show (NBC).
In 1954, Amália made her first long playing record,
with the English title, "Amália
Sings Fado From Portugal and Flamenco From Spain."
The album was never marketed in Portugal.
In 1955 Amália participates in another movie entitled "Os
Amantes do Teijo," ("The Lovers from Teijo")
by Henery Verneuil where she interprets Canção do Mar( Song
of the Sea) and Barco Negro (Black Boat). In Mexico she films
a musical documentary "Musica de Siempre" (Forever Music)
with Edith Piaf. She also filmed a Documentary "April
In Portugal",and she interprets the song Canção
do Mar (Song of the Sea).
In 1958 Amália interprets a singer in the film "Sangue Toureiro" ("Blood of a Bullfighter") the first color film in Portugal. Also in November 4, 1958, was the date on which Amália made her Portuguese television debut, being the lead actress in the piece, "O Céu da Minha Rua." (The Sky of My Street.)
In 1962, the album "Amália Rodrigues" more known as "Busto or Asas Fechadas" was released with hit singles such as "Busto" and "Asas Fechadas." Still during the sixties, Amália was given another SNI award for her performance in the movie "As Ilhas Encantadas", ("The Enchanting Islands") followed by the MIDEM award in Cannes, handed to her by Anthony Quinn. She returned to receive this award in 1968 and again in 1969.
In 1964 Amália returns to acting in a movie entailed
"Fado Corrido"
(Running Fado) by Brum do Canto, this film is based on a song written by David
Mourão Ferreira, where once again she portrays a fado singer. With this film
Lisbon again, confirms that Amália is still, the preferred star of the Portuguese
people. In the following
year she appears in a french film entilled "Via
Macau".
Amália was also invited to sing at the inauguration
of the "Salazar bridge" (now the April 25 bridge) in 1966, where she sang
"Vou Dar a Beber a Dor," which sold over 100,000 copies.
In 1969, she sang in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Prior to the April 25 Portuguese Revolution of 1974, Amália also performed in Italy, Brazil, Japan, Tunisia, and numerous other countries, recording another three albums.
One month after the revolution, Amália released the single "Meu Amor É Marinheiro," with the record cover dedicated to the revolution of the previous month. Amália devoted the remainder of 1974 to recordings which had connotations with the revolution, many of these songs considered anthems of this tumultuous yet cheerful era.
In November, she distanced herself from the public limelight, following the political attacks launched against her, which referred to her as a "disguised supporter of the fascist regime." She finally returned from her self-imposed exile on June 28, 1975, when she performed at the Parisian Olympia. Until the end of the Seventies, Amália recorded a further five albums.
In 1980, she performed, at the Newport Music Festival in the United States, singing the famous "Coimbra" with Julio Iglesias,which aired on French national television.
April 19, 1985, was the day when Amália gave her first major solo concert in Portugal, which was held at the Recreation Coliseum in Lisbon. Shortly afterwards, she released a double compilation album of all her major hit singles, called "Estranha Forma da Vida", winning her the French Order of Arts and Literature.
The first compact disc released by Amália was in October 1987- a compilation designated especially for the international market December 1989, Amália 50th anniversary as a singer, saw the release of a collection of eight double albums, paying tribute to the singer, and was entitled "Amália 50 Anos,"
The nineties saw the continuation of Amália's back tracking , the release of "Abbey Road 1952," arguably the most famous of these releases.
In 1995, the public broadcasting station RTP, transmitted a week long (five episodes, each lasting one hour) documentary series called, "Amália - Uma Estranha Forma de Vida" (Strange Way of Life.)
Amália's last album, "Segredo" was recorded and released in 1997.
In October 6, 1999, Amália Rodrigeus dies at age 79 from natural causes. Amalia Rodrigues was considered to be Portugal's "only" ambassador to the world.