José Carlos Schwarz

Infobox Person
name = José Carlos Schwarz
birth_date = birth date|1949|12|6
birth_place = Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
death_date = death date|1977|5|27
death_place = Havana, Cuba
death_cause = Plane crash
occupation = Poet
Musician

José Carlos Schwarz (Bissau, December 6, 1949 – Havana, May 27, 1977) was a Guinea-Bissauan poet and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential musicians of Guinea-Bissau. [cite web|title =José Carlos Schwarz - A voz do povo|language = Portuguese|url = http://tv.rtp.pt/EPG/tv/epg-janela.php?p_id=22346|accessdate =2007-06-13]

Schwarz wrote in Portuguese and French, but he sang in Creole. In 1970, he formed the "Cobiana Djazz" band with a group of friends. After the independence of Guinea-Bissau, Schwarz became the director of the Department of Arts and Culture, and also the responsible for youth matters. In 1977, he started working at the Embassy of Guinea-Bissau in Cuba. On May 27 of the same year, Schwarz died in a plane crash near Havana. [cite web|last =Casimiro|first =Fernando|title =Memorável José Carlos Schwarz|url =http://www.didinho.org/MEMORAVEL%20JOSE%20CARLOS%20SCHWARZ.htm|language = Portuguese| accessdate =2007-06-13]

References