This diva (1941-2011), who is the Grammy-winning daughter of Cape Verde, was a bar and cruise ship singer discovered by a record producer in 1985, becoming a sensation in Europe and eventually beyond. Her genre was morna – usually slow, often wistful songs of love, love of homeland and themes of loss  – all sung in local creole based on Portuguese, such as the classic "Sodade.".

Read about her and other towering musical talents in my post 12 Giants of World Music.


Silvio Tanaka