Anita Guerreiro

Anita Guerreiro was born in Lisbon on the 13 November 1936. At seven she was already known, singing for her relatives and friends at the popular association of her neighbourhood, the Sport Clube do Intendente.

In December 1952 she ran as competitor to the "Tribunal da Canção", a radio pastime of the "Comboio das Seis e Meia" programme – a smashing success at that time. The programme’s producer, Marques Vidal, was surprised at her quality and removed her from the competition, promoting her debut as artist. At that time the "Voz de Portugal" stated: "...judging from what we’ve already seen and heard, she is highly worthy to receive our words of encouragement and deserves our understanding sympathy." Her debut as Fado singer would take place a few months later, at "Café Luso", which was a new boost to her artistic career.

In 1954 "Voz de Portugal" highlighted Anita Guerreiro in the section "Cantam Estrelas": "... from what we have already seen and heard, She is well worthy of our encouraging words, she is well worthy of our comprehensive sympathy." (The Voice of Portugal, August 1, 1954). This newspaper also features one of Anita Guerreiro's first successful creations, “Menina Lisboa”, with lyrics by Francisco Radamanto and music by Martinho D'Assunção.

In 1955 Anita Guerreiro stepped onstage to participate in vaudeville "Ó Zé aperta o laço", premiered at Teatro Maria Vitória. Participations in dozens of other vaudevilles would then follow, always with great success. On the vaudeville stage Anita Guerreiro would gain fame as singer of Fado and Lisbon-themed songs, performed very genuinely and with a natural talent. Anita then became one of the most charismatic figures of the Lisbon vaudeville theatre (revista).

She played a small part in the movie "Lisbon" (1956) by Ray Milland, singing the theme "Lisboa Antiga".

Her repertoire includes great hits. According to her, "I was lucky. From the beginning people offered me musical scores and poems. All of what I sing is mine ". Thanks to Anita Guerreiro’s voice songs like "Cheira a Lisboa", "Fado da Sardinhada", "Santo António Veio a Alfama", among others performed at the Parque Mayer stages, were great hits in her golden days. They got her the Estevão Amarante Award for the Best Vaudeville Artist (1970). Almost simultaneously, in African land he received the Gold Guitar Award, the interpreting award and the Fado award.

In spite of her smashing success in vaudeville, she quit for many years and only came back in 1982 to Teatro Variedades, starring vaudeville "Há...mas são verdes". During that break she continued to sing in Fado houses, recording and performing abroad. She did lengthy tours in Europe, Canada and the USA, receiving the ovation of Portuguese migrant communities living in those countries. The Popularity Oscars received by Anita in 1987 and 1988 in Fall River (USA) mirror this great success.

Upon her return to Portugal Anita Guerreiro resumed acting, especially on television, where she was a member of the cast of a number of Portuguese soap operas and series, namely "Primeiro Amor", (1995), "Roseira Brava" (1996), "Uma Casa em Fanicos" (1998), "A Loja do Camilo" (1999), "Nunca Digas Adeus" (2001) and, more recently, "Os Batanetes" (2004).

She had a cinema come-back in 1997, at the film "Morte Macaca" by Jeanne Waltz.

As tribute to Anita Guerreiro’s career, label Movieplay launched a CD in 1994, in the framework of the "O Melhor dos Melhores" collection, including some of her best hits: "Cheira a Lisboa", "Festa é Festa" by Carlos Dias, "Chico Marujo de Alfama" by António José, and Hermínia de Lisboa", by César de Oliveira, among others.

The city that Anita Guerreiro so often chants paid her tribute. In October 2001, the Municipality of Lisbon awarded her the city’s Silver Pillory. Anita is also frequently invited by the Lisbon Marchas Populares – namely the “Marcha dos Mercados”, to sponsor them as godmother.

On the 17 February 2004 tribute was paid to the iconic voice of the city of Lisbon at the Teatro Municipal de São Luiz, a show aimed at celebrating the 50th anniversary of the singer’s career. In November 2004 the Lisbon Town Council awarded the fado singer the Municipal Gold Medal of Merit.

Also as retrospective, in 2005 label Movieplay launched the CD "Anita Guerreiro – An Antology of 50 Years in Vaudeville Theatre (1955-2000)" including 30 of her best hits interpreted in Portuguese vaudeville.

The applause continues to be heard at the Fado house "Faia", where Anita Guerreiro sings the Fado and Lisbon-themed songs like only she can.

Her key career reference is her participations in innumerable vaudeville shows, namely: "Ò Zé aperta o laço" (1955), "Cidade Maravilhosa" (1955), "Fonte Luminosa" (1956),"Mulheres de Sonho" (1960), "Peço a Palavra" (1969), "Catraias e Vinho Verde" (1984), "Pão Pão, Queijo Queijo" (1985), "De Pernas para o ar" (1995) and more recently "A Revista é Linda!" (2006).

Source:

"A Voz de Portugal", 1 August 1954

Rebello, Luiz Francisco (1985), "História do Teatro de Revista em Portugal" Vol. 2, Lisboa, Publicações Dom Quixote;

Catálogo de homenagem a Anita Guerreiro, 17 Fevereiro de 2004

www.cm-lisboa.pt

www.imdb.com

http://dn.sapo.pt/2005/07/26

http://infobatanetes.blogs.sapo.pt