Luiz Goes

One of the great icons of the city’s culture is its song, the Fado. And the singer Luiz Goes, who died recently, with 79 years, was one of the great voices of Coimbra. Born in 1933, he graduated in Medicine at the University of Coimbra and worked as a dentist, while makinghis career grow and becoming the “musical godfather” of figures like Adriano Correia de Oliveira and José Afonso.
In the 50’s, he recorded – with musicians like Carlos Paredes or António Portugal – the album “Serenata de Coimbra”, which is still the best selling portuguese album ever. At that time, Luiz Goes even refused a millionaire contract with Philips Records to finish medical school. Throughout his life, he wrote 25 fados and 18 ballads of great success, among which stand out “Fado da Despedida”, “Romagem à Lapa” or “É Preciso Acreditar”.

Since he was one the great figures of the country’s culture, the City Council of Coimbra is considering the repatriation of his remains to the National Pantheon, located in the Church of Santa Cruz, in the historical center of Coimbra.