Dulce Pontes

Dulce Pontes
Dulce Pontes in 2013.
Background information
Born	(1969-04-08) April 8, 1969 (age 47)
Genres	Fado, world music, classical, pop
Occupation(s)	vocalist, musician, songwriter, actor
Years active	1988 - present
Labels	Movieplay Portuguesa Universal Music
Website	www.dulcepontes.net

Dulce José Silva Pontes (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈduɫs(ɨ) ʒuˈzɛ ˈsiɫvɐ ˈpõtɨʃ], born April 8, 1969) is a Portuguese songwriter and singer who performs in many musical styles, including pop, folk, and classical music. She is usually defined as a world music artist. Her songs contributed to the 1990s revival of Portuguese urban folk music called fado.

Pontes was born in 1969 in Montijo, a town in the District of Setúbal, near Lisbon. She trained as a pianist, and started a career in singing after entering a competition in her hometown at the age of 18. She soon became an actress on Portuguese television and theater. In 1991, she won the national music festival with her song "Lusitana Paixão", (known in English as "Tell Me"), which led her to represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest. She finished 8th in the competition, which is to date the fourth-best finish for a Portuguese performer.

One of her best known songs is her interpretation of "Canção do Mar" (Song of the Sea), which was later recorded by Sarah Brightman under the name "Harem", and became an international hit in 2003.

Dulce Pontes started her career as a mainstream pop artist, but over the years she has evolved to become a world music singer. She blends traditional fado with contemporary styles and searches out new forms of musical expression. She introduced musical traditions of the Iberian Peninsula in her work, rediscovered many long forgotten popular tunes and found use for obsolete musical instruments. Her work is inspired and influenced not only by Iberian musical tradition, but also Arabic, African, Brazilian and Bulgarian sounds. She sings mostly in her native Portuguese.