José Cid

Infobox musical artist
Name = José Cid

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Img_size = 300
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = José Albano Cid de Ferreira Tavares
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1942|2|4|mf=y
Chamusca, Portugal
Died =
Origin =
Instrument =
Genre = Pop rock, Progressive rock, Folk music
Occupation = Singer, Songwriter, Keyboards
Years_active = after 1956
Label =

José Cid is a Portuguese singer and composer. Outside of his home country, Cid is most famous for performing Um Grande, Grande Amor at the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 and for the progressive rock album 10,000 Anos Depois Entre Venus E Marte.

On his long career, Cid has been awarded with 25 Silver, 8 Gold (2 double) and 3 Platinum records.

Quarteto 1111

He founded Quarteto 1111, the first band to present a new approach to music pop-rock music in Portugal, with a modern line-up and instrumentation.

Quarteto 1111 was the first symphonic rock band in Portugal. Since 1968-69 they got media attention through a hit single, "El Rei D. Sebastião", actually with lyrics about the theme of the lost Portuguese king, who supposedly died in the fields of Morocco during the battle of Alcazarquivir (a loss that would eventually lead to Portugal losing its independence to Spain). All the myths related with the return of King Sebastian — a quite anchored Portuguese myth — were fairly treated in this song. The harpsichord made its first appearance in Portuguese rock music. A single with the English version of the song was published in Great Britain. José Cid was the band leader, composer, keyboard player and lead singer. The rest of the band had a classic formation influenced by the usual Beatles line-up, but with a sound and song structure that reminds the early Moody Blues. The following album continued in the same vein, combining melodic songs with newly progressive instruments, namely the Mellotron. Later on the band evolved to late 70's pop sound.

Progressive rock

Cid explored symphonic rock with Cantamos Pessoas Vivas (1974), Vida – Sons do Quotidiano (1976) and 10,000 Anos Depois Entre Venus E Marte (1978).The progressive concept album 10,000 Anos Depois Entre Venus E Marte was edited in 1978 and is considered by Billboard magazine to be in the top 100 progressive albums, and by many to be one of the Mellotron masterpieces. Cid's style on the record is very similar to the French take on symphonic rock with lots of string synths, Mellotron and a very simple melodic style. The guitar work works well with the keyboards. Lyrics are sung in native Portuguese. Most of the songs, influenced by a sort of mix combining The Moody Blues and Pink Floyd psychedelia were composed by Cid, some of them with the help of bass player Mike Sargent and drummer Ramon Galarza. Another project from this lineup was Vozes do Além, that explored the "Live after Death / Reincarnation" theme. Featured in the record are a poem by Natália Correia ("Creio") and two from Sofia de Mello Breyner ("Quando" and "Um Dia"). Presently, work on this album has resumed, with the original lineup and young musicians.

Eurovision

The pop inclinations of José Cid led him to found during the late 70's a 4 piece vocal pop group (Green Windows) in the line of ABBA and to participate in the Eurovision song contest with a the song Um Grande, Grande Amor .

Present day

José Cid himself kept a career as songwriter and singer and is currently a very popular and active musician.

Discography

With Quarteto 1111

ee also

*Quarteto 1111
*10,000 Anos Depois Entre Venus E Marte
*Green Windows
*Progressive rock
*Portuguese rock
*Sonho Desfeito (1987 Jorge Ferreira's album on which Cid has worked)

External links

* [http://www.josecid.com Official Site]
* [http://cidfan.no.sapo.pt/ Tribute page]
* [http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=669 progarchives.com]
* [http://www.fancid.com/ Fan club]
* [http://cidmania.blogspot.com/ Cidmania]