Biography
Blending crooner sensibilities with rock energy, Ricardo Azevedo established himself as a fixture in Portugal’s pop scene beginning in 2002. Formerly the lead singer of the well-known Portuguese rock band Ez Special, he spent several years in the pop spotlight before launching a solo career to follow his personal creative path. Born in January 1977, Azevedo took up guitar and vocals while still a child and continued developing those skills through his teenage years. Between 1991 and 1999 he performed with multiple local ensembles in his native Santa Maria da Feira. In 2000 he co-founded EZ Special alongside fellow residents of the same town. The group’s first album, Partizan Pop (2002), brought them broad national attention. Subsequent releases In n’Out and Leimotiv elevated Azevedo to the upper ranks of Portuguese rock. The band played hundreds of sold-out shows, moving from intimate clubs to the National Coliseum. While EZ Special’s success grew, Azevedo’s wish to explore an independent artistic direction took shape with the 2007 arrival of his debut solo album, Prefácio. Backed by Polydor, the record yielded several breakout singles that dominated Portuguese radio for weeks. It reached number 22 on the national charts. Azevedo simultaneously maintained his role in EZ Special, whose own 2007 album Alguém como Tu demanded attention, leaving scant room for solo performances on the road.
Albums
