Labeled "The new voice of Portuguese world music" by Mundo Portugues magazine, Ramana Vieira pulls traditional Portuguese fado music into the 21st century with her powerful vocals and unique stylings. Juxtaposing unconventional instrumental layers over fado's haunting melodies and melancholy stories of heartache and disappointment, she updates the old-world ballads while maintaining the integrity of this time-honored tradition.

Joined by Marcie Brown on cello, Jeffrey Luiz on classical guitar, Stephen La Porta on percussion, and Alberto Ramirez on electric bass, Ramana sings songs both traditional and original, some of them off her new CD, Lagrimas De Rainha (Tears of a Queen).

Born in San Leandro, California to Portuguese immigrants, Ramana's personal relationship to fado lies deep in her family history. Her grandfather was a famous musician and composer from Madeira Island, and Ramana was exposed to the voices of Portugal's past at a young age. Many of the songs on her recordings are inspired by Ramana's main influence, Amália Rodrigues, known as the "Queen of Fado", which she heard on her mother's record collection as a child.

Visit Ramana's website

Listen to a track from Ramana Vieira:

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