Madredeus


The Portuguese group Madredeus comprises vocalist Teresa Salgueiro, guitarists José Peixoto and Pedro Ayres Magalhães, violin player Francisco Ribeiro, harmonica player Gabriel Gomes, and keyboard player Rodrigo Leão. Influenced by the music of Lisbon, the band travelled throughout Europe and became especially popular in Belgium. Madredeus' debut album Os Dias da Madredeus was released in 1987 followed three years later by Existir and Lisboa Live in 1992 on Blue Note; the group also appeared in the 1994 Wim Wenders film Lisbon Story (Viagem A Lisboa), in which Ayres Magalhães and Salgueiro played quite prominent roles. In 1995, two albums followed, Ainda and O Espiritu Da Paz. Other releases include 1999's O Porto. Antologia followed a year later. Movimento, which was issued in summer 2001. Madredeus' musical machine continued into the next year; he switched up his inviting nature for the eclectic electronic remix effort Electronico in summer 2002.
Biography by John Bush - Source: allmusic

Madredeus is a Portuguese band whose music combines fado influences with modern folk music.
The band's founding members were Pedro Ayres Magalhães (Classical guitar), Rodrigo Leão (keyboard synthesizer), Francisco Ribeiro (cello) and Teresa Salgueiro (vocals). Magalhães and Leão formed the band in 1985, Ribeiro joined in 1986. They'd been searching for a female singer, and found Teresa Salgueiro in one of Lisbon's night clubs. Teresa liked their music and agreed to join, so in 1987 Madredeus recorded their first album, Os dias da Madredeus.
The first album was recorded in their rehearsal space, a disused abbey in Lisbon (Convento da Madredeus. The recording was especially strenuous due to deafening interruptions every 5 minutes from Lisbon's tram service, which ran directly above. In honour of this unavoidable presence in their every performance, they named themselves after the line's nearby terminus, Madre de Deus (Mother of God), shortened to the vernacular Madredeus.
In 1993, Pedro Ayres Magalhães left the band temporarily and was replaced in live concerts by José Peixoto (Classical guitar). Magalhães rejoined the group later, making it a sextet with two guitarists.
They released several albums and became very popular in Portugal, but remained relatively unknown outside the country. This changed in 1994 when Wim Wenders, impressed by their music, asked Madredeus to perform in his movie Lisbon Story - the soundtrack gave the band international fame. Thanks to that, Madredeus spread their wings to the world and conquered fans from all over Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
In 1994 Rodrigo Leão left the band to start a solo career, being replaced by Carlos Maria Trindade (keyboard synthesizer).
In 1997 Francisco Ribeiro and Gabriel Gomes left the band as Madredeus' style started abandoning its fado roots with the release of O Paraíso. At this time Fernando Júdice (Acoustic bass guitar) was invited to join them, to form the current lineup, again a quintet. Madredeus has sold over 3 million albums worldwide.
In 2007 Teresa Salgueiro announced she would be leaving the band in order to pursue her personal solo projects.
In 2008, with a new formation and under the name of Madredeus and Banda Cósmica, they released Metafonia.
In April 2012 Madredeus announced its new album Essencia. This album is a travel through Madredeus music for 25 years since it was formed. Madredeus announced too its new formation, composed of Beatriz Nunes (singer), Pedro Ayres de Magalhães (guitar), Carlos Maria Trinidade (synthesizer), Jorge Varrecoso (violin), Antonio Figueirido (violin) and Luis Clode (cello). With this new formation Pedro Ayres said in an interview: "The melody is much more supported, without losing harmonic and rhythmic sense and keeps walking Madredeus".
Source: last.fm

Watch and listen the vídeos: Essencia, O Pastor, 
O Espírito da Paz, Haja o Que Houver, Ao Longe o Mar, O Paraíso, Ainda, Alfama, Existir, O Sonho,
Os Dias da Madredeus, Coisas Pequenas, O Paraíso,
Haja o que Houver, Euforia Part 1/2 and Part 2/2,
Mar Madredeus Ballet, As Brumas do Futuro/Sempre
Abril/Grândola Vila Morena, Oxala, Vem (Além da 
Solidão), Guitarra, Silencio, CC Belém, A Andorinha 
da Primavera/Não Muito Distante/Alma, Lisbon Story,
A Vaca do Fogo, A Estrada da Montanha, Capricho
Sentimental, A Ilha dos Açores, Ecos da Catedral,
Céu da Mouraria, Live in Belgrade, Agora, Quatro
Canções, Mix (72 videos) and YouTube Mix.