Amá Conversa

Augusto Ramos, born on March 3, 1969, in the village of Sao Sebastiao da pedreira in Lisbon, and the son of a GREAT viola de Fado, Vitor Ramos. Taken by his father to the Fado environment, very early on he showed a vocation to sing Fado and at only 12 years old, he already sang in several fado houses, namely in Cantinho da Rosmaninho, Viela, Transmontana, etc. Starting his career as a professional Fado singer at age 16, he had Elsa Laboreiro and Julia Lopes as godmothers of Fado. Since then his journey in Fado has been lived with great intensity, performing in various shows around the country and also abroad for Portuguese communities in Europe, the United States of America and Canada. Today, at 40 years of age and with a 25-year career, he presents his most recent work entitled, "O Meu Ser".

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August Ramos, nascido a 3 de Marco de1969, na freguesia de Sao Sebastiao da pedreira em Lisboa, e e filho de um grande viola de Fado, o Vitor Ramos. Levado por seu pai para o ambiente de Fado, muito cedo mostrou ter vocacao para cantar Fado e com apenas 12 anos, ja cantava em varias casas de fado, nomeadamente no Cantinho da Rosmaninho, Viela, Transmontana, etc. Iniciando a sua carreira como Fadista professional aos 16 anos, teve como madrinhas de Fado, Elsa Laboreiro e Julia Lopes. Desde entao o seu percurso no Fado, tem sido vivido com grande intensidade, actuando em varios espetaculos pelo pais e tambem no estrangeiro para as communidades Portuguesas na Europa, Estados Unidos da America e Canada. Hoje, com 40 anos de idade e 25 anos de carreira, apresenta o seu mais recente trabalho discografico intitulado, "O Meu Ser".

José Luís da Silva was born in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, in 1952. He attended the local high school until he emigrated to California in 1969. He graduated in Languages ​​and Literature (Portuguese, Spanish and French) and has two master's degrees ( French and Spanish). He was an official secondary school teacher in California for 32 years, retiring in 2010. He published the poetry book O Cantico do Silêncio in 2008.

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José Luís da Silva nasceu em Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Açores, em 1952. Frequentou o liceu local até emigrar para a Califórnia em 1969. Formou-se em Línguas e Literatura (Português, Espanhol e Francês) e tem dois mestrados (Francês e Espanhol). Foi professor do ensino secundário oficial na Califórnia durante 32 anos, aposentando-se em 2010. Publicou o livro de poesia O Cântico do Silêncio em 2008.

Fado singer Sílvia - a journey through three cultures; three ways of life! Portuguese of dual nationality, born in Bulgaria, and lived the best part of her childhood in Angola Africa. Daughter of a musician father, she studied piano at the conservatory in her hometown (Shúmen) and sang at the Porto Jazz School. Her career as a fado singer began in 2009 in Viseu, Portugal. Her first CD of original fado and traditional fado (“The Way”) was released in 2014, recorded in Lisbon and already presented in several countries (Portugal, Brazil, Switzerland, Belgium, Bulgaria, among many others). At this moment, she is already working on her second album, fighting for her musical career! She is a piano/singing teacher at her own music school in the city of Viseu, Portugal where she teaches various musical styles!

Daniela Lopes is 39 years old and was born in Angra do Heroismo, Terceira, Azores. Daniela is self-taught when it comes to fashion design and sewing (she learned some notions from her grandmother and improved with practice, and also with a senhora who worked with her, in her studio), in 2004 she presented her first fashion show and opened her first studio in 2010, in Angra. Daniela has already made clothes for various marchas, danças de Carnaval, parades, as well as, wedding gowns and party dresses. She came to the United States looking for new opportunities, despite having a good acceptance from the public, she felt she needed new challenges. Daniela is the seamstress who made the costumes for the carnaval dance from Hilmar, California, who performed at Carnaval 2020 in Terçeira Azores! Currently, she lives in Tracy, and continues to work in the field of design and clothing, which also includes sewing arrangements.

Sandra Pinheiro Pacheco Fadista was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Her parents are from Faial, Azores Portugal. She later moved to the Bay Area California and has been married for almost 30 years. Sandra has 2 children - Katrina and Shawn, and has been singing Fados for 20 years! She was initially inspired by the Amalia Rodrigues film that was shown in Mr. Da Silva's Portuguese class at San Jose High Academy!

Katrina is Sandra's daughter who was born in San Jose, California. Katrina's father is from the Azores island of Graciosa. She has been singing fado for 6 years and has been involved in danças de Carnaval for 15 years! Her first onstage performance for Fado, was at her mom's CD release party, 6 years ago. She loves to sing and hopes to continue the Fado and Carnaval tradition within our community, in the future! Don't miss this AMAzing daughter-mother-duo episode!

Nicole Sanguinetti is an Italian-American located in San Jose, California. She is a Psychic Life Coach and Intuitive Healer who specializes in helping her clients lead a soul filled life that is in alignment with their highest and greatest good! Her mission is to guide others through spiritual breakthroughs that will help them to discover how to heal, grow and ultimately remember their soul’s truth!

Website: lovelightandmagic.com

IG Handle: @nicole_sanguinetti

Carmen Moscatel is a Fadista who has been singing Fados for 19 years, within the Portuguese community in Toronto, Canada. Carmen has done two CDs, accompanied by her husband, guitarrista Manuel Moscatel. So excited to have Carmen on AmáCONVERSA! DON'T miss it!

Donald Alcino Mota is a first generation Azorean Portuguese-American Artist , whose family immigrated from the island of São Jorge, Açores. After highschool he joined the U.S. Army, where he proudly served, and was deployed to the Kosovo conflict. Upon his return after serving, he attended the Academy of Art in San Francisco California, where he trained in Illustration and fine art. During that time, he also picked up the art form of being a "Forcado" (in the Central Valley), of which he still participates in today! Olé! Donald now lives in the beautiful city of Long Beach, California and has taken up surfing! So excited to have this amazing and talented human-being on AmáCONVERSA!

AJ (Rui) Rodrigues is a Portuguese-American who is from Santa Clara, California. He is very involved in the Portuguese community as President of St. Anthony of Santa Clara council one. He also has his love for Fado, as well as the love & passion to keep our Portuguese traditions alive through our Festas. AJ is also a dedicated community member, working closely with the homeless in hopes to better their future. Thank you for all your hard work!

Emilia Foster, Portuguese-American originally from San Jose, CA now residing in Norfolk, England, has lived all over the world since 2016, including South Korea, Germany, and Poland! She grew up playing music in the Portuguese Band of San Jose for 10 years before completing her Bachelor's in Communication from San Francisco State University. She then enlisted in the US Army in 2012, going into active duty in 2016 which took her all over the world! She's been fortunate to continue to play music, even playing multiple gigs in Germany at the Cowboy Club Regensburg. Emilia is not only a musician but a talented singer as well! After 8 years in the Army, she got out and now works for the US Air Force in England where she lives with her husband and their new puppy. They also JUST had a baby last week ~ so let's give them all our blessings & congratulate them!!!