Eduardo Mendonça, Brazilian
recording artist, vocalist, composer,
percussionist, guitarist, and musical arranger, was born in Salvador,
Bahia, Brazil. Mendonça traces his lineage to a royal African family
bearing the hereditary title of Mama-beka (“prophet of the royal court”).
His grandfather, who secretly maintained the Mama-beka title, is pictured
in a rare book, property of the Instituto Geográfico e Histórico
da Bahia
(Geographic and Historical Institute of Bahia).
Mendonça performed as featured musician in many venues in Bahia - Brazil, including command performances for Brazilian President João Baptista Figueiredo and for Pope John Paul II. Eduardo had the honor to play for the former South Africa President Nelson Mandela (Seattle, WA - USA - 1999). He also performed in trios elétricos—brightly lit mobile soundstages for festivals and public dancing in Brazil —with trios such as Dengo da Bahia, Papa Léguas, and Marcos Medrado, and toured locally and internationally as vocalist and percussionist with the folkloric troupe, Exaltação á Bahia. In 1991, Mendonça was featured in Paul Simon’s documentary music video, “Born at the Right Time.”
Eduardo recently performed for legendary Brazilian musicians Geraldo Azevedo (2008 - Calgary, Canada); Alcione (2006 - Florida, USA), Roberto Menescal (2007 - Florida, USA), and Jorge Ben Jor (2008 - Florida, USA).
Mendonça’s solo performance will bring to
the audience Bossa-Nova, Brazilian standard tunes, MPB (Brazilian Popular
Music) and original tunes.
Photo by: Will Austin
“Seattle is lucky to have Mendonça in the neighborhood”
– The Seattle Times
Eduardo Mendonça is:
- Voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (Grammy);
- Winner of "Outstanding Brazilian Male Singer based in the U.S." for the Brazilian International Press Award 2007 (Florida);
- Winner of "Tribute for Excellence and Achievements in Advancement of Performing Arts and Education of the Brazilian Music in 2006" - Centro Cultural Hispano Americano and University of Washington;
- Winner of Aspasia Phoutrides Pulakis Memorial Award 2005 for his significant contributions to the Brazilian Community and the community at-large of the Northwest.
Photo by: Jonathan Alcantara
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