Tony de Matos: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Carlos Do Carmo
• Carlos Ramos
• Fernando Farínha
• Nuno Da Camara Pereira
• Vicente Da Camara

• Manuel Simões

Born:

Sep 28, 1924 in Porto, Portugal

Died:

Jun 8, 1989 in Lisbon, Portugal

Genres:

World & International Music, Rock Music, World & International Music

Decades Active:

1940's|1950's|1960's|1970's|1980's

Antonio de Matos was born in the city of Porto, Portugal on October 28th, 1924. With both parents being professional actors in the Companhia Desmontavel de Teatro Rafael, performance came naturally to Antonio. He began singing at a very young age, performing alongside his parents in the theaters around Porto. By the age of 21 he had taken a position as a singer for the Emissoro Nacional, which he abandoned a short time later. Antonio took a break from professional performance for a period of nearly three years in his early 20's. Opening a show at the Café Luso in Lisbon for renown Fado artist Julio Peres, Matos made such a strong impression on the audience and club owners alike that he was offered a residency, and stayed there performing for three years. In 1950 Matos was taken to Madrid by producer Manuel Simoes to make his first recordings. The song "Cartas de Amor" and others produced in those sessions became a national hits. By the early 50's he was back and forth to Brazil where he acted in stage plays, headlined at the Copacabana and recorded. By the time he returned to Portugal in 1967, hits such as "So Nos Dois" and "Vendaval" had made him a national star. Throughout the 1960's, Matos appeared in popular Portuguese films like ‘A Cancao da Suadade' and ‘Rapazes de Taxis,' earning fame as an actor as well as expert vocalist. Though his film career thrived in the 70's and he was commissioned for numerous EP's and singles, Matos did not make a proper solo record until his 1985 release Romantico. His next and final solo release appeared in 1988, entitled Cantor Latino, on which he interpreted the repertoire of fellow fadists and Portuguese giants like Rui Veloso and Joao Gil, to name a few. Tony de Matos died a year later on June 8th of 1989, having fallen victim to cancer. Various compilations of his work and a ‘live in concert' DVD of his 1985 performance at the Coliseu dos Recreios were released after his death and remain popular today.

- Evan C. Gutierrez, All Music Guide