José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos, known as José Afonso, Zeca Afonso (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈzɛkɐ aˈfõsu]) or just Zeca (2 August 1929 – 23 February 1987), was born in Aveiro, Portugal, the son of José Nepomuceno Afonso, a judge, and Maria das Dores. Zeca is among the most influential folk and political musicians in Portuguese history. He became an icon among Portuguese left-wing activists due to the role of his music in the resistance against the dictatorial regime of Oliveira Salazar, resistance that triumphed in 1974 with the pro-democratic leftist military coup of the Carnation Revolution. His song "Grândola, Vila Morena" is closely associated with the revolution, since it was chosen to be the password transmitted by radio for the beginning of the movement that toppled the dictatorship. In the ensuing revolutionary process, Zeca was a very active musician and continued composing political and folk songs, often criticizing the post-revolutionary changes. Years after his death, Zeca Afonso is still widely listened to, not only in Portugal, but also abroad.
Maria Amália Oliveira (m. 1950–1963), Zélia Afonso (m. ?–1987)
Children
José Manuel Afonso, Joana Afonso, Maria Helena Afonso, Pedro Afonso
Albums
De Capa E Batina, Como se fora seu filho
Star Sign
Leo
#
Fact
1
Unlce of musician João Afonso.
2
He's the second of three children. Has an older brother named João and a younger sister named Maria.
3
Zeca's parents were José Afonso (a judge) and Maria das Dores (teacher of elementary school).
4
A singer and a composer. He was one of the most important Portuguese singer of the XX century.
5
In 1964 he went back to Africa, Mozambique, where he became a teacher. After that he returned to Portugal and was expelled from teaching, because he was against the Portuguese dictatorship.
6
In the end of the 60s he was arrested several times by the PIDE, the Portuguese dictatorship police.
7
In 1969 he recorded "Cantares do Andarilho" in Paris and won the Award of Casa da Imprensa for best album of the year.
8
In 1971 he recorded "Grândola Vila Morena" one of his most famous songs. This song is associated to April 25th 1974, the day that marks the end of Portuguese dictatorship.
9
Meet second wife, Zélia, in 1962.
10
With Zélia he had to children: a girl and a boy named Joana (b.1965) and Pedro (b.1969).
11
In 1955 his second child with Maria Amália was born, a baby girl named Maria Helena.
12
In 1953 his first child was born, a boy named José Manuel.
13
In 1983 Zeca gave his last shows in Lisboa Coliseum and Porto Coliseum.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Banda sonora
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2011 writer - 1 episode, 2011
April Captains
2000
performer: "Grândola, vila morena" / writer: "Grândola, vila morena"
Aleph, lectures contades
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode, 1999 writer - 1 episode, 1999
Continuar a Viver ou Os Índios da Meia-Praia
1977
Documentary "Os Índios da Meia Praia" original song / writer: "Os Índios da Meia Praia" original song
Torre Bela
1975
Documentary performer: "Grandola Vila Morena", "Grândola, Vila Morena" - uncredited / writer: "Grandola Vila Morena", "Grândola, Vila Morena" - uncredited
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Um Tiro no Escuro
2005
A Noite do Golpe de Estado
2001
Documentary
Se a Memória Existe
1999
Short
Riscos
1997
TV Series
Fernão, Mentes?
1986
TV Movie
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mini-Festa
2015
Video short stock music
Primeiros Passos
2014
Video short stock music
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ninguém Duas Vezes
1984
Fisherman
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Cantigamente
1976
TV Series
Himself
Torre Bela
1975
Documentary
Himself - Singer
Known for movies
April Captains (2000) as Soundtrack
Continuar a Viver ou Os Índios da Meia-Praia (1977) as Soundtrack
$2 Million
