Carlos do Carmo

Lovingly known as the "Sinatra of Portugal", late Portuguese fado legend Carlos do Carmo is celebrated for his peerless singing. He remains one of the musical phenomenon's greatest male voices, or fadistas, subverting convention to sing with an orchestra instead of two guitarists, while also working with non-fado musicians. The son of golden age-era fadista Lucília do Carmo, do Carmo was born in Lisbon, Portugal on December 1, 1939 and began honing his talent for fado – Portugal's folk tradition – at his parents' fado house, O'Faia. He kickstarted his recording career in 1964 with the release of Fado em Tom Maio and rose to prominence during the 1970s under António Salazar's fascist dictatorship (Estado Novo). Do Carmo became associated with the opposition movement, collaborating with a number of key figures including Fernando Tordo. Do Carmo represented a post-dictatorship Portugal in 1976's Eurovision Song Contest, and continued to release music inspired by his love of French pop, bossa nova and other styles throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Do Carmo performed at some of the world's most prestigious venues, and in 2009 was chosen by Lisbon’s mayor (alongside leading fado performer Mariza) to be a fado ambassador. In 2014, Do Carmo became the first Portuguese artist to receive a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Do Carmo died aged 81 on January 1, 2021 at Lisbon's Hospital de Santa Maria.

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