Manuel Calixto

Manuel Calixto was born in Lisbon, at the Madragoa neighbourhood, and worked as an electrician at the Companhia Carris de Ferro.

He began singing fado as an amateur in 1924, in charity events at Salão Portugal, Cervejaria Boémia, Palatino and at the palace of Count of Torre. In June 1934 he debuts successfully as a professional at Café Luso (Av. Liberdade), in Lisboa, and then performs at “Retiro da Severa”, “Solar da Alegria”, and at the café “Gimnásio”.

Manuel Calixto also sang at Casino do Estoril, at the palace of the Count of Sabrosa and at Sport Clube de Cascais, as well as at the homes of the actor Erico Braga and Viscountess S. Luiz de Braga, and several night feasts. We also highlight his performances at the movie theatres Odeon, Jardim Cinema, Cine-Europa and Cine-Oriente and the theatres Apolo and Capitólio.

He later sang at Rádio Peninsular, Rádio Luso, Rádio Graça, and Clube Radiofónico de Portugal.

"(...) I have tried my best to be a comrade; I have the loyalty dogma, a virtue I use towards everyone. And since you ask (...) write in your newspaper that in this happy moment my sacrifices are being honoured, I do not forget my first poets: Henrique Lourenço and Horácio do Amaral, and I always remember the ones who brought me into fado, the players Agostinho da Silva and Joaquim do Vale".(cf. Guitarra de Portugal 14 November 1934).

He debuted at motion pictures, entering the soundtrack of the movie “Maria Papoila” (1937) by Leitão de Barros, and starring Mirita Casimiro.

Manuel Calixto was dubbed “Rouxinol da Madragoa".

Source:

“Guitarra de Portugal”, 14 November 1934;

“Canção do Sul”, 1 August 1945;

Machado, A.Victor (1937) “Ídolos do Fado”, Lisboa, Tipografia Gonçalves