Rui Faria profile picture

Rui Faria

About Me

Musician at the early age of four with the grand piano in his hands, he his know a singer, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist: Drums, bass, electrical and spanish guitar, tenor and alto sax, Hammond organ, synthesizer, clarinet, pan and bizet flute and trumpet. The favourite, the father of them all: the grand piano. He started at the age of 4 and by the age of 6 he was gigging with his father, also a musician (tenor and alto sax). The highlights of his small but richful carrer was an international contest called SoundMix Show (originally Dutch), where in Portugal it was named "Chuva de Estrelas" (Rain of Stars). He interpreted the Grammy winning song of his all-time idol, Elton John, Can You Feel the Love Tonight?. He end up winning the contest in Portugal, representing his country in Holland for the very first time in the contest series, winning a very honorable 2nd place, due to some voting technicalities and backstage dubious arrangements. Nevertheless, he sprung through since then with a lively career, with beautiful, lasting and rich experiences. Part of the award was the recording of an album, which he finds one of the most fulfilling experiences of his life. He learned a great deal with the whole workout and made true friends among the producers and musicians that took part of the project. Although a modest one, it came out with some enhancements of quality and dedication, which turned out to be a sold out album wherever it marketed. All of the songs are composed by him, except two, of course the award-winning "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" and "O Sonho Vem Aí", which was composed by both Jan Van Dijck and Nuno Gomes dos Santos, which entered 1997 European Festival da Canção, but did not make the finals. The album features a poem by Fernando Pessoa, which you can listen in his page, called "Andaime". He know performs as a duet with his wife, Sandra Gonçalves, who he met at Chuva de Estrelas, performing Liza Minelli's version of New York, New York. They tour occasionally throughout Portugal, they go around bar circuits in their hometown, Cascais, but, as they would like to make a bigger bang in the business, they're working on it...

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/13/2008
Band Members: Rui Faria - Piano, lead and background vocals and pretty much everything else! Sandra Gonçalves - Lead and background vocals.Here's the layout: whenever we get the chance, we perform/tour with a live band and we love it! But for the most time, I record the instrumental backing tracks in a mini-studio we have set up and perform with live piano and vocals.
Influences: Elton John, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Duran Duran, Richard Marx, David Sanborn, David Benoit, Bryan Adams, The Rippingtons, Eric Clapton, Michael Bolton, Scott Hamilton, Cliff Richard, Larry Goldings, Rui Veloso, Lionel Richie, Brian Setzer, Sting, a-Ha, Level 42, Abba, Aerosmith, Billy Ocean, Kenny Loggins, Bob James, Bob Seger, Bon Jovi, Brad Mehldau, Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Paião, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Chicago, Dave Brubeck, David Bowie, Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, Neil Diamond, Eric Carmen, Eros Ramazzotti, Gary Moore, Hall & Oates, Huey Lewis & The News, John Cougar Mellencamp, Kenny G, Loverboy, REO Speedwagon, Marty Stuart, The Mavericks, Meat Loaf, Men at Work, Michael Learns to Rock, Mike Oldfield, Monty Alexander, Pat Benatar, Boston, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Queen, Prefab Sprout, Spandau Ballet, Steve Winwood, Toto, Talk Talk, Tears for Fears, Tina Turner, Van Halen, Vangelis, Elvis Presley, The Beatles.
Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

New Songs Uploaded!

Hi, everybody. I've just uploaded 3 new songs to my profile from my album, check them out! "O Sonho Vem Ai" was one of the songs that entered 1997 Eurovision Song Contest. Give them a listen and tell ...
Posted by on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:20:00 GMT

TV show appearance!

Hello everyone! Just to let you know that, next Monday, 23rd, I will be on a TV show on the portuguese channel, SIC, on a music event that will bring to life old memories from that contest "SoundMix S...
Posted by on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:43:00 GMT