| Portuguese singer and actress Date of Birth: 23.07.1920 Country: Portugal |
Amália da Piedade Rodrigues, known as the "Queen of Fado" and the "Voice of Portugal," was a Portuguese singer and actress. Born on July 23, 1920, in Lisbon, Portugal, Amália grew up in a religious Catholic atmosphere, living with her maternal grandmother while her father returned to his hometown. She later reunited with her parents when she was 14 years old.
Amália Rodrigues began her professional career in 1939 and quickly became a popular figure in Portugal. She expanded her horizons, performing in Spain, Paris, and spending a significant amount of time in Brazil. In 1950, she participated in the international benefit show called the "Marshall Plan." With the support of renowned Portuguese poet David Mourão-Ferreira, Amália entered a new phase of her career, collaborating with many great poets in the country.
Amália's international fame skyrocketed after her role in the film "Les Amants du Tage." She successfully established herself in the markets of the United States, Britain, France, Japan, Italy, the Soviet Union, and Israel. In France, her success rivaled that in her homeland, and she became a headline act at the prestigious concert hall, Olympia.
After a brief hiatus in the late 1950s, Amália returned to focus on studio recordings and concert performances. Her album "Amalia Rodrigues," released in 1962, was a collaborative project with French composer Alain Oulman. Throughout the 1970s, she continued a rigorous touring schedule, and in the 1990s, she was hailed as a living legend.
Amália Rodrigues released her last studio album, "Lágrima," in 1983. Following that, several releases of previously unreleased or lost recordings were met with overwhelming success.
Amália was married twice, first to Francisco Cruz, a turner and amateur guitarist, from 1940 to 1946. In 1961, she married César Seabra, a Brazilian engineer, and became a widow in 1999. She never had children.
Amália Rodrigues passed away on October 6, 1999, at the age of 79 in her home in Lisbon. The Portuguese government declared a national mourning period, and her house currently serves as a museum. Her remains are interred in the National Pantheon alongside other Portuguese celebrities.