Remo Fernandes

Remo Fernandes
Fernandes performing in 2014
Born
Luís Remo de Maria Bernardo Fernandes

(1953-05-08) 8 May 1953 (age 71)
Pangim, Goa, Portuguese India
Citizenship
  • Indian (until 2011)
  • Portuguese (from 2011)
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer-songwriter
  • actor
Years active1975–present
Children2
Musical career
OriginSiolim, Goa, India
GenresFusion, Indian rock
Instrument(s)Guitar, flute

Luís Remo de Maria Bernardo Fernandes (born 8 May 1953)[1] is an Indian-born Portuguese singer and musician.[2] Known as a pioneer of Indian pop music,[3] he performs pop/rock/Indian fusion and is also a film playback singer. His musical work is a fusion of many different cultures and styles that he has been exposed to as a child in Goa and in his later travels around the world. Such influences include Goan and Portuguese music, Sega music (from Mauritius and Seychelles), African music, Latin music (from Spain and South America), the music of erstwhile European communist states, those of the dance halls from Jamaica and Soca (from Trinidad and Tobago).[4]

Writing and singing songs in English made his success more rare and distinctive in the context of the Bollywood-dominated, Hindi language-based, occasionally even disco music scene that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s. His compositions in English, reflecting life and socio-political happenings in India with which every Indian could identify. His Hindi pop/rock and film songs became instant hits with the Indian masses, earning him Gold, Platinum and Double Platinum Discs.[5] A popular stage performer in India, he has also taken part in many music festivals around the world. He has performed with members of international groups such as Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin and Queen.

He now writes and sings his songs in five different languages: English, Hindi, French, Portuguese and Konkani. He also holds an Overseas Citizenship of India card since acquiring Portuguese citizenship.[6]

  1. ^ Vaz, J. Clement (1997). Profiles of Eminent Goans, Past and Present. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 83–85. ISBN 9788170226192.
  2. ^ "Goan pop star Remo no longer Indian citizen: Cops". The Times of India. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  3. ^ Kasbekar, Asha (2006). Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle. USA: ABC-CLIO. p. 34. ISBN 1-85109-636-1.
  4. ^ "Article on Remo titled 'THE INFLUENCES'". Archived from the original on 9 February 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2006.
  5. ^ "Remo: An Introduction". Goacom.com.
  6. ^ "Questions over legality of Remo's National awards". The Goan EveryDay. 25 December 2015.