Adriano Correia de Oliveira

Who was Adriano Correia de Oliveira?

Adriano Maria Correia Gomes de Oliveira, GCIH, ComL, or just Adriano was a Portuguese musician, born to a conservative Roman Catholic family in Porto. His family moved to Avintes after his birth. He went to Coimbra to study at the University of Coimbra, and eventually dropped out, albeit being involved in the student activism and Coimbra fado music.

Adriano was part of a generation of composers and singers of political songs that used music and lyrics to fight against the Estado Novo dictatorial regime. For that, he became famous among the democratic resistance and was persecuted by the political police, PIDE for his subversive actions. Adriano was a personal friend of many musicians like Zeca Afonso, Padre Fanhais, Sérgio Godinho, or Luísa Basto, with whom he collaborated in the recording of many albums.

Adriano was also a member of the Portuguese Communist Party and participated many times in the Avante! Festival. He was also a friend of the socialist Manuel Alegre, who wrote many of his lyrics. He died in Avintes at the age of 40 due to a vascular accident.