| João Ledo: Fado Singer | |
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Reflections of Old Coimbra in a Voice from the Azores João José Tavares Ledo is a native of the Parish of Santa Clara on the Island of São Miguel, Azores, where in the 60's he played soccer as a member of the Santa Clara team. From a very early age he showed a marked propensity for fado, the unique musical genre emblematic of Portugal and which he has sung since his early youth. He made his debut in 1965 in the song contest "Yeah, Yeah" held at the Cine Vitoria Theatre in the town of Ponta Delgada, São Miguel as member of a band that was the only competitor to have presented 6 originals, all of which with music and lyrics by Joao Ledo, one of them titled "You Are My Girl" in English. The year 1968 saw João doing military service in the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. During his stay of two years in Africa, João travelled extensively throughout the provinces of Manica and Sofala as part of a group of artists, then members of the "Solar dos Beirões" Association, and who came to share billings with some very well-known names such as the group "Oliveira Muge". His stay in Mozambique has left him with many a good memory tinged with that most Portuguese of sentiments: saudade. In 1970 he immigrated to Canada. In the ten ensuing years he fundamentally dedicated all his efforts to building and stabilizing his personal and family life in these lands of the new World. But he succumbed to the lure of music once more when in 1980 he took up his musical career from where he had left off. Since then he has performed at several community clubs and associations, giving special attention to *fado de Coimbra, his favourite genre. During his last visit to his homeland he had occasion to perform at Alfredo Câmara's **Casa de Fado in Ponta Delgada. Presently, Joao Ledo is afiliated to Venus Creations, an organisation to which is most appreciative for all the support and collaboration it has made available to him as an artist. João speaks to us of some of the Portuguese greats that he claims to have influenced him as a musical artist: Alberto Ribeiro, Francisco José, Amália and Simone de Oliveira. Recently João Ledo presented us with a beautiful album titled "Hino à Paz" (Anthem to Peace). In the track that lends the album its name, João, along with other well-known community artists, namely Misty, Daniel de Carvalho, Otília de Jesus, Maria dos Anjos, Diane Campos, Lindsay Moita and Tanya Figueiredo, launches an appeal for peace and goodwill among men. This is a message that should never cease to be repeated, especially in these troubled times we live in, with war and tragedy proliferating in the world. Translation from the original Portuguese text by Adiaspora.com *Translator's Note: fado de Coimbra - a variation of fado traditionally sung in the University town of Coimbra by groups of students, oftentimes connoted with the town's bohemian student lifestyle. **Translator's Note: Casa de Fado - translates literally as House of Fado. These are traditional establishments where one may spend an evening dining and drinking to the sound of fado. Tradition demands that all be silent while fado is being sung as the Portuguese nurture great reverence and respect for their fado singers and musicians. For further information please contact: Venus Creations |
