John C. Monteiro was born in Cabo Verde Island and came to the US in 1982.

He brought with him the musical traditions which he inherited from his family.

John is an accomplished musician whose repertoire includes the traditional Cape Verde ”Funana” Batuku” “Tabanka” “Morna ” and ”Coladera”. John is a popular performer and has been invited back to his homeland as a participant in several festivals and performed in Europe ”Portugal” “France” “Nederland” and “Switzerland”.

Including September 27-30, 2001 the first International Accordion Festival and Symposium in San Antonio Texas “Texas Folk life Resources” and many other States Festivals.

In 2001, John was honor an Artist Award, giving by The International Gallery and Culture.

In 2004, John was the winner of RISCA ”Fellow Ship’ Folk Arts on traditions”.

John has several recordings to his name, the latest being ”Kansera D’Spera” (2005). His lyrics include messages of hope directed at young.

The Cape Verde Island were sighted by the Portuguese in 1456, by the end of the fifteenth century, the Portuguese had begun to settle these uninhabited Island and used them as a hording center for captured Africans that were later shipped to North and South America to be sold as slaves. Located 400 miles off the coast of Senegal, the Cape Verde Island became a navigational pivot. Cape Verde gained its independent from Portugal in 1975. Cape Verdeans trace their origins to the Portuguese settlers who intermingled with people brought from the West African mainland.

America’s more than 350.000 Cape Verdeans probably make up the largest single group of Americans who can trace their roots directly to Africa, in new England, there are more 125,000 Cape Verdeans located mostly in southeastern Massachusetts and in Rhode Island.

Among the many cultural items brought over by immigrants is music.

The morna, a ballad similar to the Portuguese fado, embodies Cape Verdean poetry. Mornas are slow ballads sung in Creole, a Creolized version of the Portuguese language.

Accompanied usually by the rabeca (Violin), the Violao (Viola) and Cavaquinho (a form of other musical forms include the Coladera (which accompanies line influences),Batuku (traditionalluy performed by man and women who sit in a circle and beat sacks of flour held between their knees, a lead singer improvises verses and others respond with the rhythmic accompaniment of hand clapping and beating of the sacks) . Funana (performed by a singer who accompanies himself on a Gaita a Concertina-like accordion, a second musician usually provides a rhythm with a ferinho or metal rasp. Funana and Batuku are (traditionally from Sao Tiago Cape Verde Island, and the form is to dance to well as for listening) .

The process of transplanting a musical tradition is complex and changes have transformed Cape Verde music in the United States, musicians have changed instrumentation which now include electric keyboards as well as other instruments.