Biography
Duarte Mendes is a former Portuguese military captain and singer. He was born in Lisbon. He is one of the so-called “April Captains”. He intervented in the Revolution of 25 April 1974, being part of the Armed Forces Movement that overthrew the Government of Marcelo Caetano. At the same time he had a long career in music.
Duarte Mendes’ first participation in the RTP Festival da Canção was back in 1970 with the song “Então Dizia-te”. The year after he was involved in Festival da Canção again.
He released a single called “Vou Dançar Nas Manhãs De Janeiro”. He returned to participate in the Festival da Canção again in 1972 with the song “Cidade Alheia”. In the same year he recorded several songs in English. His debut album was released in 1973 and contained the singles “Boy” and “Poissons d’Avril”. Mendes reached the 3rd place in the 1973 Festival da Canção with the song “Gente”. An EP was released, containgin this song.
In 1975 Duarte Mendes won Festival da Canção and thus represented Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Madrugada”.
In 1978 he collaborated on the album “Lisboémia” by Júlio Pereira. In 2006 he was invited to a series of concerts of Tributo ao Festival da Canção” together with Anabela, Nucha, Paulo de Carvalho and Fernando Pereira.
