Biography

Zé Duarte was born in the island of Pico where, at a young age, already had a passion for music, performing in different musical groups like “Os Ilhéus”, and being the vocalist for “Pedras Negras”. He attended high school at “Liceu da Horta” where he performed with some friends. He competed on the show “Prata da Casa” representing the city of Horta defeating the team from Madeira in that contest in Vilare, Lisbon .

Also he competed at the “Festival da Canção” at the National level, being the voice for the Jury of the City of Horta for the Festival. After finishing school, he came back to Pico to become a professor for Biology at the High School of Lajes do Pico. Still dedicated to music, he composed original songs, including “Whale, Whale”, that still today is recognized as a traditional symbol of the Azorean culture, by Sidónio Bettencourt of the RDP. Zé immigrated to the United States in 1984, continuing with his original music. He recorded five albuns, the last one came out in 2004 through the “Direcção Regional das Comunidades” in the Azores . This last work is considered to be a historical book about the Azores because it puts the Azorean immigration of “whalers” through our ancestors in perspective, brings up roots of the “Holy Spirit”, shows how we live surrounded by “Black Stones”, brings us a flavor of our Azorean popular music in “Azorean Mix”, and showing the love between a father and his daughter, singing together “I like You”. Zé Duarte puts out shows with his original music, regional music from the Azores, Madeira and the Portuguese main land, Fados, and has a program with more than 150 songs for Portuguese style dancing.

Zé Duarte appreciates everybody that has helped spread his music.

Thank you,