Page 99 - The Singing Contest 2019 Magazine

Who are... John & Lisa Santos
John and Lisa Santos — a well-matched pair
Duo Santos’ 25th
anniversary celebrates
the couple John and
Lisa Santos, a husband
and wife harmoniously
linked in art as in life.
João Manuel Gomes
dos Santos, recording
artist with 16 CDs to his
credit, founder-manager and music-
al director of the Amateur Singing
Contest, was born in Lisbon and emi-
grated to Canada with his family at
the age of ten.
Showing an aptitude and a taste
for music, he began playing accor-
dion and guitar at the age of four-
teen. During this time, he began his
artistic career, doing shows with the
Portuguese Association of Manitoba
and the local CTV station’s Talent
Show.
With his parents’ help, he record-
ed his first work on CD in 1975 and
from then until 1977 recorded six
CDs. He recorded the first in 1977 in
Portugal with Quim Barreiros and the
Conjunto Típico de Jorge Fontes. At
various points in his career, he per-
1st promo picture, 1985
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formed as accompanist to
Frank Sinatra Jr., Tommy
James and The Shondells,
George Savalas and Nestor
Pistor, among others.
In 1979, John Santos took
up residence in Vancouver
and from there went on
various gigs throughout
Canada and the United
States. Lisa Santos
From
1980 to 1984, he established himself
in the Canadian community around
Vancouver, both as a solo act as well as
in conjunction with Burton Cummings
and Ella FitzGerald.
In 1985, he met Lisa Arthurs...
Lisa Arthurs was born in Duncan,
Milo (Duo Ouro Negro), Quim Barreiros B.C., on lovely Vancouver Island, May
and John, 1976 1, 1965, the first-generation Canadian
daughter of English parents. From a
very early age, she felt the attraction
of music and singing. At the age of 16,
she entered the Royal Conservatory
of Music in Victoria, where she stud-
ied singing and, in her school band,
learned to play the flute. At 18, with
reservations, naturally, on the part
of her parents, she left university to
Lisa with Brother, Damian Arthurs dedicate herself to music. In the world
Duo Santos in Portugal Duo Santos in Portugal
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