Amália Rodrigues: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Amália Rodrigues (1920–1999) was a Portuguese singer and actress. Born in Lisbon, official documents have her date of birth as July 23, but Amália always said her birthday was July 1, 1920. She was born on Rua Martim Vaz (Martim Vaz Street), in Lisbon's Pena Freguesia.

She was known as the "Queen of Fado" and was most influential in introducing fado to the world outside of Portugal through numerous international performances, including TV & movie appearances in the US.

Bruno de Almeida has made four films about Amália: "Amália, Live in New York City" (a concert film of her 1990 performance at New York's Town Hall), "Amália, A Strange Way of Life" (a five-hour documentary series), "Amália-Expo'98" (shown as part of a day long celebration for the singer at the 1998 World Expo in Portugal), and "The Art of Amália" (90 minute feature documentary intended for international audiences, which opened in New York City's Quad Cinema in December 2000).

On October 6, 1999, Amália Rodrigues died at the age of 79.