Julio Pereira

He was born in Lisbon on December 22nd 1953. When he was eight, was taught by his father to play the Mandolin. Later, when he was eleven, he learnt by himself to play guitar. Began his musical activity as guitarist, performing in several cover bands playing at most of Lisbon's recreational associations, as well as in the suburbs. At thirteen, he toured Portugal's cities and villages, playing in various rock bands, among them "Xaranga" and
"Petrus Castrus", recording with the last the LP "Mestre" at Chateau d'Heroville in France.
After the revolution in April 25th of 1974, he joint a band that performed in theatre's play: "Liberty, Liberty". He met other popular composers with whom he worked as instrumentalist. From
then on, he began a large discographic activity - about 50 LPs - establishing himself as instrumentalist, orchestrator and producer.
In 1976 his first LP was published - "Fernandinho vai ó vinho". Followed in 1978 by "Lisboémia" and in 1979 "Mãos de Fada". Since then, Júlio Pereira performed live in Portugal, Spain, France, Canada and Holland. After José Afonso's album "Com as minhas tamanquinhas", he started working with him regularly as an instrumentalist, orchestrator and friend. He toured with him to various places in Portugal and abroad - Spain, the Canary Islands, France, Belgium, Italy, Holland, Germany and Mozambique.
In 1979 collaborated as orchestrator and producer on the record "Fura, Fura".
In sequence, José Afonso encouraged him to play the popular instrument - cavaquinho (ukelele) - already used in some themes of
his own work. In 1980, Júlio Pereira fully dedicated himself to the study of the cavaquinho (ukelele), not only the technical aspects but also documental. In 1981 his record "Cavaquinho" is released, and
great success met with earning the Silver record, Review and Press awards.

From his study of yet another popular instrument - the Braguesa guitar - "Braguesa" was edited in 1982. With this work he performed in London - Festival of Brazil - and in Amsterdam - Ostade Theatre - and Melkweg, continuing on another hand to be invited to collaborate on records and shows of other composers, among them Pete Seeger.
In 1984 he become interested in electronic music, developing his knowledge of computers and synthesisers, while studying also the Portuguese traditional music.

Recorded then another album "Cadói", which received great reviews and the best record of the year award. This work took him to the Vrendenburg Folk Festival in Utrecht. He played at Melkweg, Amsterdam and in 85 participated in several shows at the 12th World Youth Festival in Moscow. During this year a triple album compilation was also edited - "Portugal By Júlio Pereira" - being his latest works reedition.

Once again worked with José Afonso on the arrangements of "Galinhas do Mato" record, and from it in 1986 came the work that would later be considered by critics as his best work "Os Sete Instrumentos". He won a Silver Record and received the RDP-Antena 1 radio award. Júlio Pereira still recorded a programme with the same name for RTP which was selected to be presented at Montreaux Festival. Among several performances in Portugal (86/87) he was invited to be at Printemps de Bourges.

Also played at Theatre 140 in Brussels and at Paradiso in Amsterdam. Continuing the instrumental project, Júlio Pereira composed "Miradouro" in 1988, inspired by ethnological and musical characteristics of the individual regions of his country, with which obtained the Golden Record. Abroad in Europe, Júlio
Pereira still played in some international Folk Festivals and also recorded a programme for Macao television.
In 1990 inspired by ten pictures from portuguese
contemporaneous artists, Júlio Pereira improved his acoustic and electronic sonority and composed "Janelas Verdes" receiving the "Festival M.P. José Afonso" award. He took part in several shows
in Spain and in Portugal and also participated in One World Music Festival in Koln.

In 1992 he was invited by Sony Music. He recovered his first musical instrument and recorded "O Meu Bandolim". This began a new stage in his performance career forming a group with Minela
and Moz Carrapa, being frequently invited to perform abroad in places such as in Canada, Spain, Italy and Austria.
In 1994 was invited by the band The Chieftains for discographic collaboration. Still in this year, withdrew from electronic music and recorded the album "Acústico" based on the instruments he knows best -the acoustic ones.

Part of 1995 was spent in Spain, where he carried out a tour (Santiago de Compostela, Vila Nova I La Geltrú, Bilbao, Ainsa, Alsasua...). He was the producer of the CD "Estou vivindo no ceo", from the galician singer Uxia, and co-author with Kepa Junkera, musician and instrumentist (diatonic accordion), of the CD "LAU ESKUTARA" released in Spain and Portugal. He also performed in Belgium, Denmark and, of course, in Portugal.

1996 was dedicated to prod