Armando Gama (Portugal 1983) passed away at age 67

Armando Gama has sadly passed away this morning due cancer at the age of just 67. Armando won Festival da Canção in 1983 and represented Portugal at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest. With his song “Esta balada que te dou”, he finished in 13th place at the contest in Munich, Germany.

Armando António Capelo Diniz da Gama was born on April 1, 1954 in Luanda. In 1957, he was already playing the harmonica. In 1961 he studied accordion and, in 1968, he composed his first song on guitar. He formed his first band, the Lovebirds, in 1970. In 1971, he formed the duo Marinho & Gama, recording the first album with songs of his own: “Menino” and “Spanish Garden” .

Armando Gama formed Tantra in 1976, together with Manuel Cardoso. Two years later, he joined the duo Sarabanda with Kris Köpke. He performed at the RTP da Canção Festival in 1980, with “Made in Portugal.” He formed “Cânone” in 1981, with guitarist Zé Pino, bassist “Kaipas” and drummer “Xiquinho”. In 1982, he recorded his first solo album “Quase Tudo.”

In 1986 he recorded two singles : “No teu Abraço” and “Adoro Chopin“. In 1987, he began working together with Valentina Torres. They made appearance on various television shows and recorded various songs together: “Sonho de Natal” in 1988, “Maria Linda” in 1989 and in 1991 “Menina grab your boy“. In 1999 he began to play piano at regular base at Casino do Estoril until July 2008. On May 13, 2006 he presented the show Armando Gama o 5th Beatle.

After competing at Festival da Canção again in 1992 with the song “Se Eu Sonhar,” he did another try in 2009 with the song “Amor mais-que-perfeito.” Nevertheless, the song wasn’t selected by the online voting and didn’t compete at Festival da Canção. In 2019 we saw him back at Festival da Canção as an interval act, singing his 1983 entry with a new musical arrangement produced by Nuno Gonçalves.

Our thoughts are with Armando’s family and friends in these difficult times