Antonio Amaro was born on January 8, 1926 in the Parish of Nordestinho, in the county of Nordeste, in the Azores. Later he moved to the town of Angra do Heroísmo where he worked as an installation electrician at the American Air Force Base in Lajes, Azores, from 1950 to 1964, the year in which he emigrated to Canada together with his wife Virginia de Caves and their son Carlos. In Canada he has dedicated much of his talent and effort to this community, playing the Portuguese guitar and participating in several events to aid community clubs and other charitable and voluntary initiatives. He has accompanied all the local Portuguese artists as well as the best fado singers from Portugal to have performed in these parts.

In 1962 he toured all the islands of the Azorean archipelago accompanying various performers, and has since repeated the tour twice.

1940 - Performs live several times on the Azorean radio channel, Emissora Regional, accompanying artists visiting the islands. He was the first Portuguese guitarist to appear on the American TV Channel located on the Lajes Base on the island of Terceira.

1988 - Visits California for the first time. Shows in Chicago, Florida, and throughout the Portuguese community in North America.

He has been the subject of five tributes. The first of these took place on 4-26-1986 in a restaurant in Toronto. The second was at the First Portuguese on 10-23-1992. The third at the Clube Português de Mississauga on November 21, 1997. The fourth, at the Casa do Alentejo on April 14, 2000. The fifth, the Prémio de Mérito da Música, an award given by the Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of Ontario during the 2002 Portugal Day Celebrations.

Among others he has accompanied: Maria Armanda, Maria do Espirito Santo, Tony de Matos, Antonio de Calvario, Max, Fernando Mauricio, Rodrigo, Florencia, and Vasco Rafael.

He considers a show given before Pierre Trudeau and Pinto Balsemão to be one of the highlights of his musical career.
On May 20, 1997 Antonio took part in a gala perfomance at the University of Detroit, where he performed that most Portuguese of musical genres, the Fado. He also performed for Amalia at dinner held in her honour in Toronto. Antonio had played with other great Portuguese guitarists in the typical Lisbon casas do fado. The University of Toronto has also been a venue for Antonio's talent during cultural weeks and events in which he has participated.

For further information, please contact:

António Amaro
7422 Moodie Crt
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada

Tel: (905) 672-7840