Ramiro Mendes

The musical visionary of the Mendes Brothers, Ramiro Mendes has been instrumental in the growing popularity of Cape Verdean and Angolan music. A multi-instrumentalist and composer, Mendes continues to play an influential role in the music's evolution. Emigrating with his brother, João, to the United States in 1978, Mendes soon began performing the music of his homeland throughout his adopted country. After financing lessons in classical guitar by working in a boot factory, Mendes continued his education at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied commercial arranging and film scoring. While still a student, he made his debut as a producer when he oversaw the recording of Sãozinha's album, Andorinha Debolta. One tune from the album, "The Whole World Sings," went on to win Cape Verde's annual international song contest. The co-founder and owner of the MB record label, Mendes has continued to balance his involvement with the Mendes Brothers with work as a producer of albums by such artists as Mirri Lobo, Djoshina, Waldemar Bastos, and Cesaria Evora. ~ Craig Harris