M aria A malia
"Queen of Songs"
B orn in Lisbon Portugal, 1935 - ’Maria Amalia’ (Stage name) her real name Maria-de loudres Barrau became "Queen of Songs" after winning a singing competition in Lisbon in the early 1950’s singing traditional style Fado.
With a distinct voice and perfect dictition Maria Amalia had her first hit at the young age of 21 years. She went on to record three records and became a house hold name with her hit song: Toma la Behjihos.
She performed at some of the greatest concert halls of the time sharing the stage with the likes of Mario Lanza and Placido Domingo....
Maria Amalia’s main inspiration was the incredible ’Amalia Rodrigues’ from whom she adopted the name ’Amalia’ for herself and so launching her carrea as Fado’s ’ Queen of Songs’ with her own unique classical Fado style.
Maria Amalia was also known as ’The monument’ describing her statuesque build and powerful presence for a woman of that time. With her ability to express sentiment, emotion and longing (a pre-requisite to Fado music), Her musical team elegantly crafted songs and arrangments that touched thousands of people around the world.
After releasing her second record, she was invited to tour Angola, Mosambique and South America and went on to release her third album.
Maria Amalia was an only child, her loving parents guided her through this time of her life and encouraged her star to shine. It seemed all her dreams were coming true, she had found the love of her life and she was engaged to be married.
T ragically, in a twist of fate - on the eve of her wedding- her one true love died in a car crash on his way back from picking up guests for their wedding. With a broken heart, shattered dreams, she went into solitude and tried to overcome this life changing event and twist in fate. She vowed never to sing again.
A fter months of grieving - with her world torn apart, one day she managed to venture outside of her home with some close friends who took her to a carnival where she was encouraged to have her cards read by a fortune teller. She never believed in such things, but decided that she had nothing to lose and so proceeded toward a cravan where a gypsy woman sat, with her crystal ball and cards.
Perhaps it’s no coincidence that the song "velha Cigana" for told such a meeting.
W ith an open heart Maria Amalia asked the woman : What is my fate ? what do you see before me ? Oh Gypsy woman tell me now !
The old gypsy woman went on to say: There is nothing left for you in portugal and that you will travel water and meet a tall, dark handsome man and have 3-4 children and would once again find love and good fortune and be waited on by servants and reach old age.
M aria Amalia (My mother) took this information with a pinch of salt and forgot all about it. - Eventually Maria Amalia did give up her carrea and by the late 50’s moved to London,England. Friends and family were convinced that she would never surive so far away from home, But this brave move was meant to be.
Sure enough, she met a tall dark man ( My father) and soon became pregnant with her first child. This in its self was a miracle because she was told that she could never have children of her own, But she went on to have three more.
The Gypsy woman at the carnival was right !
S ince then Maria Amalia, later known as Mrs Maria-de Loudres Barrau Adebisi - mother of four and empowered in her new life, role and status found herself with her husband,mother and children in Africa Nigeria - The home of her husband (Lawyer) and what was to be her home for the next 20 years.
1978 was the year and the start of a new chapter in her amazing life. With so many more challenges and further life changing experiences, She took to her new vision and role in life and opened a school with just 2 children at the time.
S he went on to build a school called "Marella International school" which up to 300 children and untill this day stands as a remarkable legacy to her percerverence, courage and fortitude for herself, family, friends, fans and students from her school and academy - of which many have gone on to graduate with full scholarships and hold top positions around the world in various fields of business,medicine, science to the arts & technology.
Now a grandmother of seven, retired and residing in London, hopes to once again visit the beloved land of her birth ’Portugal’ !
I have had the pleasure of connecting with my mother, friend and inspiration in ways that have left me speechless. As we grow and our roles change, I hope that in some way this space goes towards part of my gift to her in her golden age - enabling her self to carry on embracing all of her remarkable qualities and for people round the world to share in her many lives within her/this incredible life time.
Please share with me in the celebration of life, love and magic.
Yours Alaena Adams xxx
I love you Mum !