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Culture, History, News, People

Pioneer Portrait: Fernando da Silva, Canada’s First Fado Singer

posted by Gallery of the Portuguese Pioneers
Dec 7, 2016 1321 0 0
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Fernando da Silva

Fernando da Silva was born in the heart of Lisbon, on Rua da Trinas in Madragoa, on October 3, 1931, right next to the “Newspaper Sellers” collective, where he later began singing.

Fernando Silva arrived in Canada on August 10, 1956. He married Cristina da Silva, with whom he had 2 children: Fernando and Elizabeth.

According to other pioneers, Fernando da Silva, was the first fado singer to sing in Canada. He began singing fado music accompanied by the late Mariano Rego and Orlando, and later, by the musicians Frederico Bulhões, António Amaro and Gabriel Teves. The ballroom at the First Portuguese Club was the first “house of fado” in Toronto.

Later on, with some friends who also shared a passion for music, like Chico Alentejano, Zé Gomes, Maria Gomes and others, Fernando participated in several charity shows with their group “Alegres do Fado”.

Along with singing fado, Fernando pursued his profession as a furniture polisher. 

Fernando was a beloved and respected figure in his circles, but health problems and an unexpected stroke forced him to leave his work and bohemian lifestyle behind.

He retired in 1997, living in a debilitated stated in a wheelchair at the Maynard Nursing Home in Toronto. Fernando passed away in 2003.


Fernando da Silva

Fernando da Silva nasceu no coração de Lisboa, na Rua das Trinas, na Madragoa, no dia 3 de Outubro de 1931, mesmo ao lado da colectividade “Vendedores de Jornais”, onde começou a cantar.

Fernando Silva chegou ao Canadá no dia 10 de Agosto de 1956. Ele casou com Cristina da Silva, com quem teve dois filhos: Fernando e Elizabeth.

Segundo os nossos pioneiros, Fernando da Silva, foi o primeiro fadista a cantar no Canadá. Ele começou a cantar o fado acompanhado pelo saudoso Mariano Rego e o Orlando. Mais tarde, pelos músicos Frederico Bulhões, António Amaro e Gabriel Teves. O salão de festas do First Portuguese Club foi a sua primeira “casa do fado” na cidade de Toronto.

Com vários amigos do fado, como o Chico Alentejano, Zé Gomes, Maria Gomes e outros, participou em vários espectáculos de beneficência, com o grupo os “Alegres do Fado”.

Paralelamente com o fado, Fernando da Silva exercia a sua profissão de polidor de móveis. 

O Fernando foi uma figura queria e respeitada mas problemas da saúde, uma inesperada trombose, forçou-o a deixar a sua vida de trabalho e boémia atrás.

Ele reformou-se em 1997. Viveu debilitado numa cadeira de rodas no Lar Maynard Nursing Home, em Toronto.

Fernando da Silva faleceu em 2003.


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