The Music Remains

Remembering the Friends

and Artists I’ve Lost Along the Way

     Throughout my life in music, I have been blessed to work with extraordinary artists who became much more than names on an album, faces on a stage, or voices in a recording. Some became close friends—people with whom I shared performances, long nights in the studio, laughter, conversations, dreams, and unforgettable moments.

     Although they are no longer with us, their voices still live in the music, and their presence remains in the memories we created together. Each of them touched my life in a different way, and I carry a part of every one of them with me.

     This page is dedicated not only to their remarkable talent and the legacies they left behind, but also to the people I was fortunate enough to know, the friendships we shared, and the profound privilege of having walked beside them for part of their journey. They are deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and will never be forgotten.

Djosinha

José Vieira Duarte

May 25, 1934 – June 5, 2026

I first met Djosinha in the United States during the late 1990s, when he recorded his album Nôs Dom at my studio in Fall River, Massachusetts. I recorded and engineered the album and also played drums on two of its songs. That project marked the beginning of a friendship and professional relationship that continued for many years.

After recording Nôs Dom, Djosinha called me to perform with him at several shows throughout the United States. I began traveling to Cape Verde in 1998, and in 1999, I had the honor of performing with him at the legendary Baía das Gatas Music Festival on the island of São Vicente. We continued to share the stage at other events throughout the years.

One of the most meaningful compliments I ever received came from Djosinha. He told several people that when I arrived in Cape Verde, I brought my own flavor to the country’s rhythms. In his opinion, my playing had an impact on various styles of Cape Verdean music. Coming from an artist of his experience, history, and importance, those words meant a great deal to me and are something I will always carry with pride.

Our final recording session together took place at Strela Verde Studios in Acushnet, Massachusetts—a studio I set up for Fifi Montrond. Djosinha recorded there for Fifi’s first album. I have a photograph of him from that session that I am grateful to be able to include with this tribute.

Djosinha and I shared a genuine friendship and a deep mutual respect. He was a legendary voice of Cape Verdean music and an extraordinary entertainer whose career touched audiences across generations and throughout the world.

I feel honored to have recorded his music, played drums on his album, and shared stages with him in both the United States and Cape Verde. The music we created and the memories we shared will always hold a special place in my life.

His voice, energy, and remarkable legacy will forever remain part of Cape Verdean culture.

Romeu di Lurdis

Carlos Manuel Tavares Lopes

1989 – October 9, 2025

     I first met Romeu di Lurdis during Talentu Strela IN 2011. He was one of the contestants, and I performed with him as the drummer in the program’s house band. We became friends during that time, beginning a friendship that would grow much deeper in the years that followed.

     Romeu recorded Amoransa, the first album of his career, at my studio in Praia, Cape Verde. We spent many nights working together—sometimes just the two of us and other times with all the musicians who contributed to the album. Those sessions gave me the opportunity to see his talent, dedication, and love for Cape Verdean music up close.

     Romeu came from the interior of Santiago, and through our friendship, he taught me a great deal about the Creole spoken there. It has its own vocabulary, expressions, and ways of communicating that many people outside the region may not know. He generously shared that part of his culture with me, and it became another meaningful part of the time we spent together.

     Romeu loved hearing stories about my exploits in a rock band during the 1980s. Because of those stories, he affectionately called me “Anos Oitenta” in our text messages. It was part of the humor and friendship we shared, and it is something that will always make me smile when I think of him.

     Romeu and I became very close friends. One of the photographs I plan to include here was taken with him at Café Sofia only a 8 months before his passing. I could never have imagined that it would become one of our final photographs together.

     Romeu was a gifted artist and a genuinely good friend. I will always treasure the performances, the long nights in the studio, the laughter, the lessons, and the friendship we shared. I feel honored to have been part of the beginning of his recording career and grateful that our work together brought us so close.

     He left us far too soon, but his music, his spirit, and the memories we created will always remain with me.

Jeffrey Liggins

Jeffrey Todd Liggins

June 25, 1963 – February 19, 2025

Jeff Liggins and I shared a long musical history and a great friendship. During the 1990s, we formed a production company called 2 Funky Productions, where we wrote, recorded, and produced a large body of music together.

I co-produced every song on Jeff’s album Slip Away, including “What About Us?,” “There for You,” “Slip Away,” “Show Me,” “Only 1 of Us in Love,” “Never Get Over You,” “I’m Your Man,” and “If You Belong to Me.” We were constantly in the studio together, spending countless hours writing, recording, arranging, and developing the songs and sound of the album.

Jeff was an amazing bass player. Early in his career, he played bass for his uncle, renowned R&B vocalist Jeffrey Osborne. He had an instinctive sense of groove and musicianship that made playing with him effortless and exciting.

In the early 1990s, Jeff and I performed with Tiny Tavares throughout New England. Our work together also took us to Aruba, and in 1998, Jeff traveled with me to Cape Verde on my first visit to the islands. He was there playing bass as I began what would become one of the most important chapters of my musical life.

Jeff was an exceptionally talented vocalist, bass player, songwriter, and producer, but he was also a great friend. We created a tremendous amount of music together and shared experiences that extended far beyond the recording studio and the stage.

I will always be grateful for 2 Funky Productions, the songs we created, the many hours we spent together in the studio, the places music took us, and the friendship we shared. Jeff’s voice, musicianship, and unmistakable groove remain preserved in our recordings, and the work we did together will always be an important part of my own musical journey.

Vaiss Dias

Osvaldo Marcos Dias

1965 – January 3, 2025

I played frequently with Vaiss Dias while I was living in Lisbon in 2015. Much of our time together was at B.Leza, one of Lisbon’s most famous and important venues for Cape Verdean music.

Whenever I substituted for B.Leza’s house drummer, Vaiss was the guitarist in the house band. That gave us many opportunities to perform together and develop a strong musical connection. He was an amazing guitarist with extraordinary talent, and I always enjoyed playing alongside him.

Vaiss and I also performed together with Maria de Barros at B.Leza and toured with her in Luxembourg. I have photographs of us performing together in Luxembourg, backstage at B.Leza, and onstage at B.Leza with Maria. Those images preserve some wonderful memories of the music and experiences we shared.

Vaiss and I got along very well, both personally and musically. Playing with a musician of his ability was always inspiring. He understood Cape Verdean music at its deepest level, and his playing brought elegance, authenticity, and unmistakable character to every performance.

I feel fortunate to have shared so many stages with Vaiss during my time in Lisbon. I will always remember his incredible musicianship, the connection we had as members of the rhythm section, and how much I genuinely enjoyed making music with him.

Zé Paris
José “Zé” Paris 

December 2, 1972 – November 8, 2024

I first met Zé Paris in 2011 in Cabo Verde. Although we played together only a handful of times in concert, every experience was memorable. He was quite simply one of the finest bass players I have ever played with in my life. His groove was unbelievable, and playing alongside him was always an incredible musical experience.

We performed several concerts together with Cremilda Medina, playing traditional Cape Verdean music. We also shared the stage many times at Quintal da Música in Praia, where I was the house drummer and Zé would frequently sit in with the band.

Zé also recorded two songs with Tété Alhinho at my studio in Praia. Recording him was an amazing experience and gave me another opportunity to appreciate his exceptional musicianship, incredible groove and natural command of the bass.

The highlight of our time playing together came at the Kriol Jazz Festival, when we performed with the extraordinary bassist Richard Bona. Richard sang Cesária Évora’s “Sodade,” and Zé played Richard Bona’s bass during the performance. Watching those two exceptional musicians share that moment—and having the privilege of playing alongside them—is something I will never forget.

Beyond his extraordinary musicianship, Zé was a humble, warm and genuinely good person. His passing was an enormous loss to the Cape Verdean music community. He was an amazing bass player with an unforgettable groove, and I feel fortunate to have shared both the stage and the studio with him.

Manel Dos D’Alma — The Island Man

Manuel Plácido Cabral

February 14, 1960 – September 12, 2024

Manel Dos D’Alma — The Island Man

Manuel Plácido Cabral | February 14, 1960 – September 12, 2024

     I first worked with Manel when he was a member of the Portuguese band D’Alma. I recorded a couple of the band’s albums, and after Manel began his solo career, our musical relationship continued through several more albums and many live performances. Over the years, we became very close friends.

     One of my favorite memories from working with Manel was recording the drums for “Sempre À Minha Espera.” When I arrived at the studio, the song already had a programmed guide drum track and was arranged primarily as a rock ballad. As I worked on it, I completely changed the rhythmic feel by introducing Funaná Lentu, a Cape Verdean rhythm with a distinctive cowbell pattern.

     I performed the new rhythm with brushes on the drum kit, combining the character of Cape Verdean music with the song’s original rock foundation. That rhythmic change gave the recording a broader world-music feeling and transformed it from a conventional rock ballad into something far more distinctive—a fusion of rock and Cape Verdean Funaná Lentu. It remains one of my favorite examples of how I was able to bring my own musical background and rhythmic ideas into his recording while still serving Manel and his song.

     I always loved performing with Manel—not only because of his music, but because of the incredible energy and infectious positivity he brought everywhere he went. He was a truly unique person with a spirit entirely his own. Whether we were recording in the studio or performing together onstage, his enthusiasm and love for music were impossible to miss.

     Manel also appeared in the music video for “Blues e Amigos” by Dionisio Garcia, which is featured elsewhere on this site. I will include a link here so visitors can see another part of the musical history we shared.

     Manel battled cancer for 17 years, yet he never allowed the illness to define him or take away his love for music and life. He remained remarkably positive and continued fighting until the very end. That strength, optimism, and determination were at the heart of who he was, and they inspired everyone fortunate enough to know him.

     I will always treasure the albums we recorded, the performances we shared, and, most importantly, our friendship. Manel’s music, energy, and infectious positivity will remain with me forever.

Totinho

Domingos António Gomes Fernandes

1964 – July 2, 2024

I first met Totinho in 2010, when I was the house drummer at Quintal da Música in Praia. We performed there several nights a week, and over time, a close friendship developed between us.

Totinho was an exceptionally talented musician and one of Cabo Verde’s legendary saxophonists. I had the privilege of sharing the stage with him at numerous concerts and on several television programs. He also spent a great deal of time recording at my studio, contributing his unmistakable sound to projects by many different artists.

In 2015, when Totinho traveled to Lisbon to release his album, he invited me to join his band for a special performance at B.Leza. After I returned to Cabo Verde, he once again asked me to be part of his band, this time performing his original music at the ATLANTIC MUSIC EXPO in Praia.   CLIP 1   CLIP 2 

It was an honor to help bring his music to the stage at two such important events.

My last memory of Totinho is especially meaningful to me. Just a few days before he passed away, we were together on the island of Fogo for a festival. We joked, laughed, and enjoyed each other’s company, as we had done so many times before. I could never have imagined that it would be the last time I would see him.

Totinho was more than an extraordinary musician—he was a dear friend whose talent, warmth, and personality I will never forget. I feel honored to have performed and recorded with him and to have shared so many wonderful moments together.

His music and legacy will always be an important part of Cabo Verdean culture, and his memory will remain close to my heart.

Sara Tavares

February 1, 1978 – November 19, 2023

I first met Sara Tavares in Toronto in 2009, when I was contacted about possibly joining her band. That meeting marked the beginning of a friendship I will always treasure.

Later, in 2015 while I was living in Lisbon, Sara and I went to small, intimate concerts at Casa Independente in Largo do Intendente. We went there several times to hear Fogo Fogo, the venue’s resident band, perform their energetic interpretation of Cape Verdean funaná. Those evenings—sharing the music in such an intimate setting, and her sitting in with the band —are among the memories of our friendship that I treasure most. We became close and shared many wonderful conversations.

After I moved to Cabo Verde, I had the privilege of performing with Sara at several galas. Playing her music alongside her on stage were experiences I will never forget.

I later worked with her on Kintal da Belinha as the recording engineer and live sound engineer, where I also handled her in-ear monitor mix. Afterward, I mixed the complete episode, which became one of the personal highlights of the entire series for me. 

Sara was an extraordinary person. She remains one of my absolute favorite artists and one of the most special people ever to touch my life. Her music, her spirit and the time we shared left a lasting impression on me. I feel deeply fortunate not only to have worked with her, but also to have known her as a friend.

For a long time after Sara passed, I could not listen to her music without getting emotional. The sense of loss was simply too strong. Now, when I listen to her music, I still miss her deeply, but I also find myself remembering the beautiful times we shared, the conversations we had and the music that brought us together.

She is greatly missed and will always be remembered.

Valdir Alves
1962 – December 30, 2022

I knew Valdir Alves for many years. We regularly crossed paths at Cape Verdean events throughout the United States, and I also saw him several times in Cabo Verde. Through those encounters, we came to know each other very well.

Valdir was also a guest on Café com Histórias with Sandra Andrade, a podcast I produced. He was a natural storyteller whose remarkable knowledge of Cape Verdean history, culture and the diaspora made him a perfect guest for the program.

We also worked together on an album by Fifi Montrond. Valdir came into the studio to record a spoken narration for the project, and the photograph accompanying this tribute was taken during that session. His unmistakable voice brought something special and authentic to the recording.

Known throughout the community as “The Voice of the Diaspora,” Valdir devoted his life to journalism, broadcasting and preserving Cape Verdean culture. Through television, radio, print and online media, he documented the stories of Cape Verdeans and gave a platform to countless artists, community leaders and cultural figures.

Valdir was a familiar and respected presence wherever Cape Verdeans gathered. His passing was a tremendous loss to the community, but his voice, his work and the history he preserved remain an important part of his legacy.

Mimi Wyler

Dorene Linderman

August 22, 1969 – July 1, 2013

Dorene Linderman, known artistically as Mimi Wyler, was much more than a musical colleague to me. She was one of my closest friends.

Dorene was originally from New England and began her professional life as a model. She was absolutely beautiful, but her talent and creativity went far beyond her appearance. Later, she pursued music and developed into a gifted rock singer and songwriter. She had a powerful voice and an exceptional ability to write meaningful lyrics.

We recorded many, many songs together and spent countless hours working on her music. Although we performed live only a few times, our creative relationship in the studio was extensive. At one point, I came very close to moving to Las Vegas to continue working with her, but those plans ultimately did not come together.

One of our memorable performances was connected to the final fight of legendary boxer Vinny Paz. Dorene was the person who introduced me to Vinny, and that introduction led to other work I later did with him. It is another part of my life and career that happened because of her.

One of Dorene’s songs, “Anyway,” can still be heard on YouTube. Hearing it again after so many years brought back the sound of her voice, the music we created, and the depth of our friendship. It moved me to tears because Dorene was not simply an artist whose music I worked on—she was a very special part of my life.

On July 1, 2013, while I was on tour in Angola, I received a call from a mutual friend telling me that Dorene had passed away. The news crushed me. 

Dorene was a beautiful, immensely talented, creative, and deeply special person. She was a remarkable singer, a gifted writer, and someone whose friendship meant more to me than I can adequately express.

I will always treasure the songs we recorded, the experiences we shared, and the bond we had. Dorene was like a sister to me, and hearing her voice today reminds me that a part of her remains alive in the music we created together.

Manu “Kat” Santos

October 14, 1967 – March 4, 2013

Manu Kat first came to my studio in the early 1990s as a client. He seemingly walked in off the street, perhaps after finding one of my brochures, and neither of us could have known how profoundly that meeting would change the course of my life.

Manu began bringing artists to my studio, including Jack Darosa, Mizé Badia, and the celebrated São Toméan singer Camilo Domingos, whose album Nada a Ver we recorded together. He continued bringing many other artists, and through those sessions, he introduced me to the Cape Verdean community and opened my ears to an entirely new musical world.

As we continued working together, I began learning the rhythms of Cabo Verde and playing drums on some of Manu’s productions, alongside the drum programming used in those recordings. That experience became the foundation of my relationship with Cape Verdean music and eventually allowed me to bring my own musical background and rhythmic ideas into it.

Manu later introduced me to Tony Neves of Neves Travel and Hello Cabo Verde. Through Tony, I began traveling to Cabo Verde, making my first trip in 1998 and returning in 1999, 2000, and nearly every year through 2006. I returned again in 2009, and the journey that Manu helped begin continued to shape the rest of my life and career.

It is impossible for me to tell the story of my relationship with Cape Verdean music without telling the story of Manu Kat. He was the person who first opened that door for me. Without meeting him, my career—and much of my life—might never have taken the direction it did. I will always be grateful for his friendship, his confidence in me, and the extraordinary journey that began because he chose to walk into my studio.

Jack Sebastião

José B. Sebastião

January 10, 1962 – October 16, 2006

Jack Sebastião recorded his first eight-song album, Dá-Me Um Beijinho, for Henda Records before we began working together. I first worked with Jack in the late 1980s, when he came to my studio to record his second album with his band,  Music Connection. That project marked the beginning of a musical partnership that continued throughout the rest of his career.

Jack was much more than a singer and charismatic live performer. He became a talented music producer and eventually opened his own recording studio. In addition to producing his own music, he worked with numerous artists—including many young performers he helped develop within the Portuguese-American community, as well as established artists.

Jack would record the artists’ vocals at his studio and then bring the projects to me. I would contribute to the arrangements, usually play the drums, and mix the completed songs. Beginning with his second album, I mixed all of Jack’s own recordings and every project he produced throughout the remainder of his career.

In 2006, I traveled with Jack to the Azores, where I played several live performances with him. I have photographs from that trip that mean even more to me now, knowing they captured some of the final months of his life. I also have photographs of Jack at my studio with singer Suzy Fagundes, another talented artist we later lost.

Jack was a gifted singer, musician, songwriter, producer, and entertainer who brought tremendous energy and personality to everything he did. He was also committed to helping other artists develop their talent and bring their music to life. His unexpected passing at only 44 years old was a tremendous loss to his family, friends, fellow musicians, and the Portuguese community.

I am grateful for the countless recordings we created, the stages we shared, and the many years of musical collaboration between us. Jack’s voice, humor, talent, and unforgettable presence remain alive in his music and in the memories of everyone fortunate enough to have known and worked with him.