Rita Guerra

Pop singer Rita Guerra began her recording career in the early '90s, quickly becoming a Portuguese favorite, hovering on the edge of international success for decades to follow. Born in Lisbon on October 22, 1967, Guerra gained important mentorship from more established musicians throughout her youth. That mentorship would continue into her early years as a performer, making a name for herself on the stage of the famous Casino do Estoril. One of Europe's premier casinos, the Estoril gave Guerra her first major performance opportunities, sharing the stage with artists like Adamo in 1989. Casino do Estoril would prove to be one of the performer's mainstays over the course of the next few decades. Her debut release, Pormenores Sen a Minima Importância, coincided with her first time participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. She finished second, catching the attention of music lovers all over Europe. The records that followed ran the gamut of style and language. Her sophomore release, Independence Days, featured all English lyrics, followed by the less pop-savvy, world music-inspired Da Gama. Guerra's performance credits include stage as well as screen. Her participation in the popular stage show "Canções do Século," showcasing important songs in Portuguese musical history, enjoyed a successful run from 1993 to 1998. Guerra's record industry success garnered her invitations to record the soundtracks for the Portuguese releases of important Disney films like The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, among others. Her 2005 release Rita earned her the most significant airplay and chart success of her career, debuting at number one on national charts. The record earned such popularity, it was re-released the following year. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, Rovi