# Amália Rodrigues

> Portuguese recording artist, fado singer, actress (1920-1999)

**Wikidata**: [Q214813](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q214813)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amália_Rodrigues)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/amalia-rodrigues

## Summary
Amália Rodrigues was a Portuguese recording artist, fado singer, and actress, widely regarded as the "Queen of Fado." She played a pivotal role in popularizing fado, a traditional Portuguese music genre, both nationally and internationally, and remains one of Portugal's most iconic cultural figures.

## Biography
- **Born**: July 23, 1920
- **Nationality**: Portuguese
- **Known for**: Popularizing fado music globally, earning the title "Queen of Fado"
- **Field(s)**: Music (fado), acting
- **Aliases**: Queen of Fado, Amália da Piedade Rebordão Rodrigues
- **Website**: [amaliarodrigues.pt](http://amaliarodrigues.pt/)

## Contributions
Amália Rodrigues is best known for her contributions to fado music, a genre deeply rooted in Portuguese culture. She recorded numerous albums, including *Fado et Flamenco* (1956), which helped introduce fado to international audiences. Her work spans decades, from the late 1930s until her death in 1999, and she is credited with elevating fado from a local tradition to a globally recognized art form. She also appeared in films and theatrical productions, further cementing her cultural influence.

## FAQs
**What is Amália Rodrigues best known for?**
Amália Rodrigues is best known as the "Queen of Fado," a title reflecting her unparalleled influence in popularizing and preserving the traditional Portuguese music genre of fado. Her recordings and performances brought fado to international audiences, making her a cultural icon of Portugal.

**What awards did Amália Rodrigues receive?**
She received several prestigious awards, including the Knight of the Legion of Honour (France) and the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (France), recognizing her contributions to music and culture.

**What was Amália Rodrigues' role in Portuguese culture?**
Amália Rodrigues was a central figure in Portuguese culture, particularly in the 20th century. She helped define and promote fado, a genre that became synonymous with Portuguese identity, and her influence extended beyond music into film and theater.

**When did Amália Rodrigues pass away?**
Amália Rodrigues died on October 6, 1999, leaving behind a legacy as one of Portugal's most celebrated artists.

## Why They Matter
Amália Rodrigues' impact on Portuguese culture is immeasurable. She transformed fado from a niche genre into a symbol of national identity, influencing generations of musicians and artists. Her work bridged traditional and modern audiences, ensuring fado's survival and global recognition. Without her, fado might have remained a localized tradition rather than a cherished part of world music heritage.

## Notable For
- **Queen of Fado**: Widely recognized as the foremost interpreter of fado music.
- **International Recognition**: Received the Knight of the Legion of Honour and Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from France.
- **Cultural Icon**: A defining figure in 20th-century Portuguese music and acting.
- **Recordings**: Produced influential albums like *Fado et Flamenco* (1956).
- **Legacy**: Her name remains synonymous with fado, and she is celebrated as a national treasure in Portugal.

## Body
### Early Life and Career
Amália Rodrigues was born on July 23, 1920, in Lisbon, Portugal. She began her career in the late 1930s, quickly gaining recognition for her powerful voice and emotional depth in performing fado, a genre characterized by melancholic themes and expressive vocals. Her early work laid the foundation for her later fame, as she became a staple in Lisbon's fado houses and radio broadcasts.

### Rise to Fame
By the 1940s and 1950s, Rodrigues had become a household name in Portugal. Her recordings, such as *Fado et Flamenco* (1956), showcased her ability to blend traditional fado with other musical styles, broadening its appeal. She also ventured into acting, appearing in films and theatrical productions, which further expanded her influence beyond music.

### International Influence
Rodrigues' career took on an international dimension as she performed across Europe and beyond. Her collaborations with artists from other genres and her appearances in foreign media helped introduce fado to global audiences. She was honored by France with the Knight of the Legion of Honour and the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, recognizing her contributions to the arts.

### Later Years and Legacy
Amália Rodrigues continued to perform and record until her death on October 6, 1999. Her legacy endures through her extensive discography, which remains influential in Portuguese music. She is buried in the National Pantheon in Lisbon, a testament to her status as a national icon. Her work has inspired countless artists, and fado itself was later inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, partly due to her efforts in promoting it.

### Cultural Impact
Rodrigues' influence extends beyond music. She became a symbol of Portuguese identity, embodying the spirit of fado—its sorrow, resilience, and beauty. Her life and career are celebrated in museums, documentaries, and annual festivals, ensuring that her contributions to Portuguese culture are remembered and honored.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. MusicBrainz
3. BnF authorities
4. [Source](http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=153)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. Library of Congress Name Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. SNAC
10. Find a Grave
11. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
12. filmportal.de
13. FemBio database
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. CONOR.SI
16. Europeana
17. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data
18. performing-arts.ch
19. [Source](http://vocabs.rossio.fcsh.unl.pt/rossioAgentes/pt/page/c_f952951e)