Biography
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Born
2 August 1929
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Born In
Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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Died
23 February 1987 (aged 57)
José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos, known as José Afonso, Zeca Afonso or just Zeca (2 August 1929 – 23 February 1987), was born in Aveiro, Portugal. 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.
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