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Ramana Vieira

Ramana Vieira sings with such a wide range of emotions one cannot help but be mesmerized by images of "old world" Portugal that emerge from the depths of her soul. Her extraordinary gift of bringing this 15th century style into modern times is her unique trademark. Often referred to as the "New Voice of Portuguese World Music," this powerful vocalist is making her mark as one of the premier contemporary Fado artists. According to the Portuguese, Fado is a melancholy and often-mournful music similar to the American blues as it tells stories of heartache and disappointment. The essence of the poetry is the quality of "saudade," a word that is difficult to translate as it expresses a myriad of feelings.

Ramana's personal relationship to Fado music lies deep in her family history, as her grandfather was a famous musician and composer from Madeira Island, Portugal. Born in San Leandro, California to Portuguese immigrants, Ramana was fortunate to be exposed to the voices of Portugal's past at a young age. "During my childhood, I sang with my mother to Amália Rodgrigues and other fabulous fadistas that were part of her special record collection," said Ramana in a recent interview. Her mother quickly observed her daughter's gift for music and by the age of ten she bought a piano so that Ramana could study classical music.

Her passion for music continued as she matured and eventually she attended The American Conservatory Theatre where she did her vocal training with Faith Winthrop, San Francisco's grande dame of song and one of the most respected singers and vocal coaches on the scene today. Along with singing, Ramana studied drama and dance as well as performing in many theatrical productions. Although she had dreams of a Broadway career her direction shifted abruptly when a famous music producer inspired her to embrace her Portuguese roots. Shortly after that she found herself on an unexpected journey to Portugal where she had the opportunity to perform with the local Fado singers and musicians bringing the house to it's feet with her authentic, yet individual style. "It was there I discovered that there was nothing in the world more gratifying to me than singing Fado."

Called a "rising star in World Music" by the San Francisco Examiner, Ramana has solidified her place as an artist who understands the tradition of Fado singing and continues to creatively construct a path into the future by combining new musical textures and original compositions. Many of the songs on her recordings are inspired by Ramana's main influence, Amalia Rodrigues, known as the "Rainha do Fado" ("Queen of Fado") and who is attributed to popularizing the Fado worldwide. According to Ramana, "nobody else is doing what we are doing with Fado. Take the feel and groove of Shakira and the melodic textures of Dulce Pontes and that is how I would describe our music."

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Album Review

Ramana Vieira: Tudo de Mim (All of Me)

Read "Tudo de Mim (All of Me)" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


No doubt it has been some time since a listener of a pop-fado recording has been treated to a rendition of Franz Schubert's “Ave Maria" complete with lyrics based on the prayer. The singer is Ramana Vieira, a product of San Leandro, CA, of a family of Portuguese origins. Paired with “Trago Fado Nos Sentidos," a song one easily imagined coming from a night spot in Lisbon or Madrid, the remarkable plasticity of the culture that produced such music, blending ...

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3

Recording

"Fado Da Vida," New Album From Fado-inspired Singer Ramana Vieira, Out Now!

"Fado Da Vida," New Album From Fado-inspired Singer Ramana Vieira, Out Now!

Source: GoMedia PR

Internationally Acclaimed Vocalist and Composer Supporting Release with Shows in Northern California and Oregon in October and November Described by the San Francisco Examiner as a “rising star in world music” and by the Boston Globe as deserving “a prominent place in the front rank of today’s Fado singers,” Ramana Vieira will release her third album, Fado da Vida (Fate of Life), on October 16. She will support the release with a six-week long series of performances in northern California ...

196

Recording

“The New Voice of Portuguese World Music,” Ramana Vieira, CD Release in Bay Area

“The New Voice of Portuguese World Music,” Ramana Vieira, CD Release in Bay Area

Source: Sound Visions Media

Called “a rising star in World Music” by the San Francisco Examiner, vocalist Ramana Vieira will bring her unique style of Fado music to the 142 Throckmorton Theatre on Saturday, April 18th at 8:00 PM to celebrate the release of her new CD Lagrimas De Rainha (Tears Of A Queen) on the Pacific Coast Jazz label. Ramana Vieira has solidified her place as one of the premier world music artists who understands the tradition of Portuguese Fado singing, a melancholy ...

147

Recording

Portuguese Fado Singer Ramana Vieira Releases "Lagrimas de Rainha (Tears of a Queen)"

Portuguese Fado Singer Ramana Vieira Releases "Lagrimas de Rainha (Tears of a  Queen)"

Source: Sound Visions Media

Called a rising star in World Music by the San Francisco Examiner, vocalist Ramana Vieira released her new CD Lagrimas De Rainha (Tears Of A Queen) on the Pacific Coast Jazz label on March 24, 2009.

Ramana Vieira has solidified her place as one of the premier world music artists who understands the tradition of Portuguese Fado singing, a melancholy and often-mournful music similar to the American blues, yet continues to creatively construct a path into the future by combining ...

264

Music Industry

Ramana Vieira Joins Pacific Coast Jazz Label

Ramana Vieira Joins Pacific Coast Jazz Label

Source: All About Jazz

San Diego-based independent record label, Pacific Coast Jazz, announces the signing of Bay Area-based Portuguese Fado singer, Ramana Vieira. The agreement anticipates the release of their new CD, “Lagrimas De Rainha (Tears Of A Queen), “ slated for a street date of March 24, 2009. “We've been looking for a top quality world artist for our label for quite some time, “ says Donna Nichols, founder and president of Pacific Coast Jazz. “Ramana has solidified her place as an artist ...

"Here we have a fado record that doesn't sound what you are used to hearing as fado and it just might bring a whole bunch of new listeners into the tent as a result... this is a dandy world beat pop set that opens the ears nicely to a stylist with a lot of charm and depth that you don't have to speak Portuguese to enjoy fully. Very much an off the beaten path treat for gringos on the prowl." —Midwest Record

"Ramana Vieira, a rising star in World Music." —San Francisco Examiner

"The new voice of Portuguese World music" —Antonio Olilveira, Mundo Portuguese

"No one in the United States is doing more to breathe new life into Fado than Ramana Vieira, a sultry, dramatic singer." —Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Tudo de Mim (All of...

Self-Produced
2023

buy

Fado Da Vida

Self Produced
2015

buy

Tears Of A Queen

Self Produced
2009

buy

Fado da Vida

From: Fado Da Vida
By Ramana Vieira

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