History

This writing in a way traces our family history back since the twentieth century to the present, telling about the dream of five young brothers who decided to make their musical passion as a livelihood, about 60 years ago.

By that time a debut in music had already come to light to the “Vicente” brothers. That was their primary musical education learnt about in the Philarmonic Band of Turquel (Portugal), their homeland. Thus, they joined on the youthful enthusiasm to a passion and created an orchestra of their own named ‘Orquestra Irmãos Vicentes’ back in 1951. (Free translation: Vincent Brothers Orchestra)

They created their own repertoire by composing original songs evoking life histories, passions, people and places. And they hit the road driving an old Studebaker acquired on sale.

As the orchestra toned up a greater feeling for the sound of music far beyond usual places and live journeys, they were getting a name wherever they performed and always asked to go back to countless places, more and more, pacing the endless rhythm of festivities and traditions.

All along the twentieth century, hundreds of philharmonic orchestras sowed the music in Portugal, mostly playing wind and percussion instruments performing here and there, or in a little village somewhere, growing out the hearing roots of the military bands.

Those philharmonics were the musical and cultural keynote up for the common citizen. Their schools and music academies taught thousands of people bringing them on music, and being a notable value for music and culture, lasting to these very days.

From later 60s to early 70s the orchestra updated the mood. To ever live for the music in motion, far beyond the living passion of its musicians, the orchestra should play on the new born 'electric' roots: grooving sounds, innovative instruments, new melodies and rhythms.

The earliest songs, originally composed by its musicians, mostly by one of them, Manuel Vicente, no longer beseemed with tides of English, French or Italian hits beating tops and audiences on the radio and TV shows.

That was the very beginning of a period when dance bands by the hundred came to light in Portugal. So the orchestra tuned in new moods and became 'Conjunto Musical Irmãos Vicente' (Free translation: Vincent Brothers Band)

Into the seventies the full Pop hit the spot. Each band was a prime source of inspiration for real. The public mood was changing dramatically as well. Music players and listeners were craving for newer sounds and technologies. It was then when pop music players entered the new formation in the band.

Within the Portuguese musical milieu, we were then listening to Hammond and Farfisa electronic organs, mastering sounds with their unique Leslie speakers and fulfilling keyboard players for years.

People were then also listening to famous Fender Rhodes pianos for the first time in a lifetime, likewise abroad. Fender, Gibson and Ibañez blasted their premieres. On drums we'd be soon listening to Ludwig, Premier and Pearl.

It was the age for open air concerts underneath the blazing sun or the loving moonlight, just like sequels to the mystique Woodstock 69, claiming for new sound systems, available for one and all bands, suddenly facing huge audiences and an hard working time all day long.

Everywhere, Public Access Systems (PAs), such as Dynacord, Montarbo, Semprini, FBT, M3 and more, hit the road to festivals or traditional festivities. They stirred emotions by the tough handling and stage setting, many a time ahead the show. Thus and so a new job was born and going by the name of 'roadies'.

From the 90's to the present

From the 90s to the first decade of the current century, the different family groups directed towards diverse goals and activities once again.

Some family members kept on the music scope running the music trade or teaching in schools and academies. Another branch of the family has successfully opted for different industrial and commercial business-to-business areas, like visual communication and advertising industry.

In the late 90's the 'first' generation of the Vicente family was still preserving their lasting passion for music, represented by three brothers and musicians of the original orchestra, already retired from their professional activities.