Fernanda Maria Carvalheda Silva, known professionally as Fernanda Maria, was born on February 6, 1937, in Lisbon, Portugal. She started her career singing fado in traditional houses in the Bairro Alto district and had a breakthrough audition in 1952. In 1964, she opened her own fado house, Lisboa à noite. She performed notable songs like "Não passes com ela na minha rua" and "Fado de horas", and composed themes such as "A razão do meu viver". Her style was marked by techniques like rubato and melismas. She recorded over eighty records, including collaborations with Alfredo Marceneiro. Notable album releases included Sempre (1991) and Os Maiores Sucessos de Fernanda Maria (1993). She received the Prémio Bordalo in 1963 and the Medalha Municipal de Mérito Ouro from Lisbon in 2012. She died on January 13, 2025.
