This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2011)

Fosse Way
Route of the Fosse Way
Route information
Length:	230 mi (370 km)
Time period:	Roman Britain
Major junctions
From:	Isca Dumnoniorum
	Lindinis, Aquae Sulis, Corinium, Venonis, Ratae Corieltauvorum
To:	Lindum Colonia

The Fosse Way was a Roman road in England that linked Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum) in South West England to Lincoln (Lindum Colonia) in Lincolnshire, via Ilchester (Lindinis), Bath (Aquae Sulis), Cirencester (Corinium) and Leicester (Ratae Corieltauvorum).

It joined Akeman Street and Ermin Way at Cirencester, crossed Watling Street at Venonis (High Cross) south of Leicester, and joined Ermine Street at Lincoln.

The word Fosse is derived from the Latin fossa, meaning ditch. For the first few decades after the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43, the Fosse Way marked the western frontier of Roman rule in Iron Age Britain. It is possible that the road began as a defensive ditch that was later filled in and converted into a road, or possibly a defensive ditch ran alongside the road for at least some of its length.

It is remarkable for its extremely direct route: from Lincoln to Ilchester in Somerset, a distance of 182 miles (293 km), it is never more than 6 miles (10 km) from a straight line.

Today's route[link]

Many sections of the Fosse Way form parts of modern roads and lanes, and parish, district or county boundaries.

Several place names on the route have the suffix -cester or -chester, which is from the Latin castra meaning military camp. Some settlements are named after the road itself, such as Fosse-, or -on-Fosse, while others have a more generic form, such as Street, Strete, -le-Street, Stratton, Stretton, Stratford, and Stretford, from the Latin strata, meaning paved road. The route runs from 50°44′N 3°29′W / 50.73°N 3.48°W / 50.73; -3.48 in Exeter to 53°14′N 0°32′W / 53.23°N 0.54°W / 53.23; -0.54 in Lincoln.

Lincoln to Leicester[link]

Between Lincoln and Leicester the A46 follows the route of the Fosse Way. The A46 deviates from Fosse Way at East Goscote, to follow the Leicester Western Bypass. The original alignment, which is still visible as an unclassified road called Fosse Way, passes through Syston, continuing as the minor road Melton Road through Thurmaston, before merging with the A607 (the old A46), continuing into the city centre on the old alignment, first as Melton Road then Belgrave Road and Belgrave Gate. The alignment terminates at the Clock Tower, and picks up again at Narborough Road (the A5460), on the other side of the River Soar. A 19 miles (31 km) stretch of the road between Widmerpool & Newark-on-Trent has been upgraded to a Dual-carriageway which was completed in 2012. The new route deviates in several sections off the historic road line.

Leicester to Cirencester[link]

Fosse Way from the top of Brinklow Castle, Warwickshire

South of Leicester, apart from a short deviation near Narborough where the original course is no longer visible, the B4114 (originally the A46 but renumbered when the M69 was opened) follows the route. A short distance north of the A5, the B4114 diverges from the line of the Fosse Way to pass through the village of Sharnford, while for 2 miles (3.2 km) the route of the Fosse Way is followed by a minor road, named Roman Road ^[1] which, although single track, runs along a much wider and slightly domed strip of land with deep ditches either side (the agger). The modern road ends at a picnic site car park, and a further 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwards can be explored on foot.

The junction of Fosse Way with Watling Street, now the A5, is at High Cross (Roman name Venonis). Watling Street is the county boundary between Leicestershire and Warwickshire.

The Fosse Way follows the B4455 across Warwickshire, through Street Ashton, Stretton-under-Fosse, Brinklow, Bretford, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Princethorpe and the site of a Roman town near Chesterton,^[2] until it joins the A429 near the boundary with Gloucestershire. The route then follows the A429 through Stretton-on-Fosse, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Northleach and Fossebridge, to Cirencester, where it crosses Akeman Street and Ermin Way.

Cirencester to Bath[link]

South of Cirencester the Fosse Way follows a short section of the A433, then goes cross country, forming the county boundary between Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, across the old airfield at RAF Kemble, then becomes fragmented sections of country lanes; two sections on this stretch are byways rather than maintained roads, and at points on these routes it widens to as much as 60 feet (20 m).

It passes near the Iron Age hill fort of Bury Camp and becomes another section of the county boundary, crossing first the South Wales railway, next the site of an old chapel and spring at Fosse Lodge in Dunley, and then the M4. Thereafter it passes through The Shoe and Netteton Shrub where remains of a posting-station have been found, and arrives at Batheaston. Thereupon it turns due west to follow the river Avon into Bath.^[3]

Bath to Ilchester[link]

Between Bath and Shepton Mallet the line of the Fosse Way follows parts of the A367, through Radstock, Westfield and Stratton-on-the-Fosse. It runs across open country and farm tracks parallel to the A37 north of Shepton Mallet, near the Iron Age hill fort of Maesbury. At Beacon Hill south of Oakhill, it crossed the Roman road along the Mendip ridgeway from Old Sarum to the lead and silver mines at Charterhouse. The Fosse Way passes through the eastern suburbs of Shepton Mallet on a short stretch of the A361 to Cannard's Grave, where it picks up the A37.

The Fosse Way follows the A37 through Street-on-the-Fosse and Lydford-on-Fosse on a direct route to Ilchester. The route leaves the A37 at the A303 junction just north of Ilchester, and follows a small track, before picking up the B3151 through the town.

The Roman road from Ilchester to Dorchester, Dorset continues on the line of A37 through Yeovil to the south east. Other minor Roman roads lead from Ilchester and Lydford-on-Fosse towards Street and the A39 route along the Polden Hills, leading to Roman salt works on the Somerset Levels, and ports at Combwich, Crandon Bridge and Highbridge.

Ilchester to Exeter[link]

After Ilchester the Fosse Way is followed by a section of the A303 under the ramparts of the Iron Age hill fort of Ham Hill, occupied by the Second Legion after the conquest of the Durotriges in Dorset.

The alignment leaves major roads after Petherton Bridge^[4] over the River Parrett, and follows country lanes to Over Stratton and Dinnington, where in 2002 members of the Channel 4 television programme Time Team uncovered a mosaic next to the road.

The route crosses a stream called Stretford Water, climbs the ridge, and follows a short section of the A30 at Windwhistle Hill. Then it turns on to the B3167 through the hamlets of Street and Perry Street, joins the A358, crosses the River Axe at what used to be called Stratford (now called Weycroft), and on to Axminster.

Now we come to the difficult question of where the Fosse Way ends. There are further alignments on the A358 at Ball's Farm and Musbury south of Axminster, which imply a Roman road did continue along the River Axe toward Axmouth and Seaton. These sections are labelled Fosse Way on Ordnance Survey maps.

However, the main route for Exeter would have followed the Dorchester road west from Axminster to Honiton. The crossroads in Axminster was controlled by a Roman fort at Woodbury Farm, now on the southern edge of the town. The route to the west crosses the Rivers Axe and Yarty to Kilmington, continuing on segments of the A35 and minor local lanes to Honiton.

From Honiton the route leads south-west along the old A30, to Strete Ralegh, where there is a short break, then a clear alignment along a minor road towards Exeter.

It is also likely that one or more side roads split from the Fosse Way at Lopen Head or Dinnington, passing around Ilminster, then following the line of the current A303/A30 from Horton to Honiton. For example, there are villages called Crock Street and Street Ash on or near these routes. So in the later years of Roman occupation, there would probably have been a choice of routes from Ilchester to Honiton.

See also[link]

• Roman Britain
• Roman roads in Britain

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Aston, M. and Burrow, I. (Eds) (1982) The Archaeology of Somerset : a review to 1500 AD, Taunton : Somerset County Council, ISBN 0-86183-028-8
• Margary, I.D. (1955) Roman roads in Britain: Vol.1, South of the Foss Way-Bristol Channel, 1st Ed., London : Phoenix House, 255 p.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fosse Way

• Roman Roads of Britain: Chapter 7: The Foss Way , Thomas Codrington (1903)
• 'The Fosse Way - A Journey through Roman Britain' web page by the BBC

Colin James Hay^[1][2] (born 29 June 1953) is a Scottish-Australian musician, who made his mark during the 1980s as lead vocalist of the Australian band Men at Work, and later as a solo artist. Regarding his solo career, Hay stated, in 2011: "I feel like it’s been building for the last fifteen, or so, years that I’ve been touring. It’s slow and steady. It’s been word-of-mouth. People see the show, like it, and tell their friends. It feels very organic."^[3]

Hay's music has been frequently used by actor and director Zach Braff in his work, subsequently leading to a career rebirth in the mid-2000s.^[4] Commenting on his younger fanbase, Hay noted, "Most of them have an idea about Men at Work, but that's the subplot. They picked up on me since Scrubs, they're young enough they never heard of Men at Work. But I've found if people discover you they discover everything about you."^[5]

Early life and Men at Work[link]

Hay was born in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland, but moved to Australia at the age of 14 with his family.^[6]

In 1978, Hay met Ron Strykert and the men began playing acoustic music as a duo. Hay and Strykert formed the band Men at Work, adding Jerry Speiser (drums), John Rees (bassist) and Greg Ham (flautist/saxophonist). The group released their debut album Business as Usual in 1981.

Hay joined as guest vocalist with The Incredible Penguins in 1985, for a cover of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", a charity project for research on Fairy penguins, which peaked at #10 on the Australian Kent Music Report in December.^[7][8]

Later career[link]

Following the breakup of Men at Work in 1985, Hay released several major label solo albums, including Looking for Jack (Columbia) and Wayfaring Sons (MCA), to fluctuating commercial success. In 2011, Hay commented on his early solo career, stating, "After Men at Work, for the better part of a decade, I was stumbling around being unfocused. It was pre-internet, I really had to try to find my audiences by going out on tour. Men at Work really didn't build a foundational audience. We came in as a pop band with enormous radio success; once that goes away and the band breaks up the audience tends to go away with it. You're left with what you want to make of it. When you start out doing those tours, you start again [and] you tend not to attract a very big number of people. I'd play to a hundred people or sometimes less."^[5]

In 2004 he contributed to the Garden State soundtrack with his solo song "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You".

In addition to recording, Hay also established his own recording label, Lazy Eye Records,^[9] named for his own divergent strabismus (lazy eye) condition, and has made appearances in cult movies such as Cosi and television shows, such as The Larry Sanders Show, JAG, and The Mick Molloy Show. Hay also appeared on television in the NBC show Scrubs, which along with episodes of ABC's What About Brian, NBC's The Black Donnellys, CBS's Cane, and the BBC hospital drama Casualty, have included performances of some of his previous songs.

In December 2005, Hay and Heather Mills digitally re-released "My Brilliant Feat" as a charity single as a tribute to the late football (soccer) player George Best, who died on 25 November of that year. Proceeds were forwarded to the Donor Family Network, supporting organ donor families and promoting organ and tissue donation. The single is available on iTunes with a bonus music video tribute to Best.^[10][11]

In 2006 Hay provided his voice for one of the characters in animated movie The Wild. He has also been a member of Ringo Starr's eighth and tenth All-Starr Bands. He continues to perform regularly, including playing some folk venues.

On 13 February 2009, former Men at Work band member Ron Strykert was arrested for allegedly making death threats against Hay.^[12][13]

Hay contributed music to the TV series Scrubs in the course of a number of episodes, including on-camera performances. In Episode 1 of Season 2 he performs an acoustic version of the Men at Work-hit "Overkill" and he also makes an appearance in "My Hard Labor"

Hay released his 10th album, "American Sunshine", on 18 August 2009 on Compass Records.

In 2009, Hay's former group, Men at Work, were named in a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement by Larrikin Music, which owns the rights to the "Kookaburra" song. Larrikin Music claims that part of a flute riff from the band's 1981 single "Down Under" was copied from "Kookaburra" originally written by a music teacher, Marion Sinclair, who died in 1988. In February 2010, a court ruled in favour of Larrikin Music. Although the petition from Larrikin Music requested 40% to 60% of royalties dating back to 1981 and future royalties, in July 2010 a judge awarded the plaintiff only 5% of royalties dating back to 2002 and the same amount of future royalties.^[14]

In May 2009, Hay performed at the Artist for the Arts Foundation benefit at Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, California. Performing alongside Curt Smith (Tears for Fears) Fee Waybill (Tubes) and Venice and over 70 members of the Santa Monica High School Orchestra and Girls Choir, the benefit helped to provide funds for the continuation of music education in public schools. In August 2010, Hay performed in Missoula, Montana with a Los Angeles Roots rock band named Patrolled By Radar.^[15]

Solo discography[link]

• Looking for Jack (1987)
• Wayfaring Sons (1990)
• Peaks & Valleys (1992)
• Topanga (1994)
• Transcendental Highway (1998)
• Going Somewhere (2000)
• Company of Strangers (2002)
• Man @ Work (2003)
• Are You Lookin' at Me? (2007)
• American Sunshine (2009)
• Gathering Mercury (2011)

Acting[link]

After Men at Work Hay has also performed in a number of films and TV shows, usually in small roles.

• The Uninvited (2008) as Nick
• The Wild (2006) as Fergus Flamingo (voice)
• Scrubs (TV series) (2002, 2007, 2009)

Episode – My Overkill as Troubador (Performing "Overkill")

Episode – My Hard Labor as Troubador (Performing "Down Under")

Episode – My Finale as Troubador (Cameo)

• The Country Bears (2002) (singing voice - uncredited)
• The Mick Molloy Show (TV series)

Episode #1.4 (1999) as Gay Builder

Episode #1.2 (1999) as Artist

• The Craic (1999) as Barry
• Heaven's Burning (1997) as Jonah
• JAG: Judge Advocate General (TV series)

Episode - Trinity (1997) as Miles

• Cosi (1996) as Zac
• Blue Heelers (TV series)

Episode - Shadow Man (1995) as Brad Fielding

Episode - Theft (1994) as George Patterson

• Raw Silk (TV movie) (1988) as Parker
• Wills & Burke (1985) as Publican

Personal life[link]

Hay is married to singer Cecilia Noël, who often provides backup vocals at his shows.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Brazilian fan site
• Colin Hay at the Internet Movie Database
• Colin Hay at Allmusic.com
• Colin Hay on Myspace
• Interview with and performance by Hay on public radio program and podcast The Sound of Young America

Gregory Norman "Greg" Ham (27 September 1953 – 19 April 2012) was an Australian songwriter, actor and saxophone player known for playing multiple instruments in the 1980s band Men at Work. In addition to the saxophone, he played flute, organ, piano and the synthesiser.

Early life[link]

Ham was born in Melbourne and attended Camberwell Grammar School from 1964 to 1971.^[1] According to the school's year books, he was remembered for his acting talent in school plays, particularly The World We Live In (the insect comedy) in 1969 where he played the "parasite". In 1970 he played Mr Seekamp, editor of the Ballaarat Times, in Lola Montez and, in 1971, Puff in The Critic. In 1967 Ham was photographed airborne by J. Jones in a still photo which won first prize in the Ilford Competition. He completed HSC in both 1970 and 1971 with high marks in Chinese (B) (1970), physics (B) (1970) and biology (A) (1971). He was a senior prefect in 1971.^[2]

With Men at Work[link]

In 1972, Ham met and befriended Colin Hay via mutual friend Kym Gyngell and, in 1979, joined the original lineup of Men at Work with Hay, Ron Strykert and Jerry Speiser. Ham and Hay formed the core of the band from 1979 until 1985 when Ham left, with the band disbanding shortly afterward. Ham returned to Men at Work when they reformed in 1996 to tour the United States.^[3]

As a multi-instrumentalist, Ham played saxophone, keyboards, flute and harmonica for the group as well as performing vocals. He performed the saxophone solo in the song "Who Can It Be Now?" (a rehearsal take was used in the final mix) and improvised the flute riff in the song "Down Under". In 2009, music publisher Larrikin Music, then headed by Norman Lurie (now retired), sued Men at Work and their record label EMI for plagiarism, alleging that the flute riff copied the 1934 nursery rhyme "Kookaburra", to which they owned the publishing rights. The Federal Court of Australia ruled that "Down Under" did infringe the copyright of "Kookaburra" and awarded Larrikin 5% of the song's royalties backdated to 2002. Several appeals by EMI and Men at Work were unsuccessful. In an interview with The Age newspaper, Ham said that he was deeply affected by the judgment and felt it had tarnished his reputation, saying: "I'm terribly disappointed that that's the way I'm going to be remembered—for copying something."^[4]

Later activity and death[link]

Ham played brass and keyboard with the R&B band Relax with Max, with frontman Max Vella, girlfriend and later wife, Linda "Toots" Wostry, on saxophone, James Black on keyboard, David Adam and Ross Hannaford on guitar and John James "JJ" Hackett on drums. Relax with Max played at the Metropol in Fitzroy and on ABC's television comedy While You're Down There and at the Falls Creek music festival. They supported Australian artists including Kylie Minogue and American soul singers James Brown and Bo Diddley.^{[citation needed]}

Later in life, Ham taught guitar at Carlton North Primary School and assessed music students for the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).^[3]

Ham was found dead at his home in Carlton North, Melbourne, on 19 April 2012, where he lived alone.^[5] Friends had been unable to contact him for a few days and went to his house to investigate. An obituary for Ham by Glenn A. Baker appeared in The Age newspaper on 24 April 2012.^[6] Ham's private funeral was held at the Fitzroy Town Hall, in Melbourne, on 2 May 2012. The cause of his death has not been made known.^{[citation needed]}

References[link]

External links[link]

• Greg Ham on Myspace
• Greg Ham at the Internet Movie Database
• Greg Ham at the Notable Names Database

Pedro Abrunhosa

Pedro Abrunhosa (born December 20, 1960) is a Portuguese singer, musician and songwriter. Aside from his music, he is known for always wearing sunglasses in public. Abrunhosa also played himself in the 1999 film La Lettre. He is an active spokesman for the Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa regarding Copyright infringement on the Internet.^[1]

Biography[link]

Abrunhosa was born in Porto, Portugal. After studying at the Ruvina Music School, in 1972 he began his musical studies at the Music School of Porto, under the guidance of Professors Álvaro Salazar and Jorge Peixinho, in the subjects of Analysis, Composition, and History of Music, having already initiated his studies in the double bass. (He has often been approached by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation to attend and participate in the Meetings of Contemporary Music in that same institution.)

Once admitted into the "Conservatório de Música do Porto", he studied musical composition under the direction of Professor Cândido Lima. At that time, he was invited to take part in the Madrid Contemporary Music Group, under the direction of Spanish composer Enrique X. Macias. This afforded him the opportunity to take part in a series of shows performed in Portugal and Spain. In 1981, he received a diploma for the Courses of Musical Pedagogy from Polish Professor Jos Wuytack.

In 1984, he went to Madrid to study with double-bass player Todd Coolman and with musicians Joe Hunt, Wallace Rooney, Gerry Nyewood and Steve Brown. In that same year, he finished the General Course of Composition in the “Conservatório de Música do Porto” and started studying double-bass with Alejandro Erlich Oliva.

In 1985, returning to Spain, he took part in the International Jazz Seminar, and worked again with Todd Coolman, Billy Hart, Bill Dobbins, Dave Schnitter, Jack Walrath and Steve Brown. In that same year, together with Spanish guitar player Joaquin Iglesias, he founded the quartet “Banda de Bolso”.

In 1986, he returned to Spain to participate in the third International Jazz Seminar in Seville where he played with Bob Moses, Chip Jackson, Brad Hartfield, Hoku Kim and Stan Strickland. In Portugal, later that year, he participated in the Seminars of Direction and Interpretation of the Big Band. He was chosen as the double-bass player of the newly formed orchestra. He also participated in two other Jazz Seminars with Danish saxophonist John Tchicai and bassist Peter Danstrup and the American musicians Paul Motion, Bill Frisell, and Joe Lovano.

In 1987, he worked with David Liebman, Billy Hart, Ron Mclure and Richard Beirach in Barcelona. For one year, he taught double-bass at the Jazz School of Hot-Club in Lisbon. He also directed and produced the program “Até Jazz” in the “Rádio Clube do Porto”. Later on, he joined Boulou Ferré, Ramon Cardo, Frankie Rose, Vicent Penasse and Tommy Halferty and extensively toured Portugal and throughout Europe. Additionally, he joined the Teacher’s Quartet of Hot-Club of Portugal and Carlos Martin’s Quartet.

He composed and recorded the music for the films "Amour en Latin", directed by Serge Abramovic, "Adão e Eva" directed by Joaquim Leitão, and "Novo Mundo". He was awarded Best Soundtrack at the Madrid Film Festivalfor the latter . He also composed the music for the theatrical pieces “Possessos de Amor”, “A Teia”, and “O Aniversário da Infanta” (Oscar Wilde). He composed the soundtrack to the video “150 Anos do Bonfim”.

He co-founded the Jazz School of Porto, where he taught Harmony, Auditive Training and Group Music, during three years. He assembled and has conducted the orchestra of the Jazz School of Porto, concomitantly, composing most of its arrangements.

He was a teacher at the Higher Arts School of Porto (Cine-Video area), where lectured on the Formation and Analysis of the Soundtrack and at the Caius Music School on Group Music and Musical Production.

He formed and directed the Cool Jazz Orchestra, a musical group essentially devoted to Rhythm & Blues. After three years of intense work it became "Pedro Abrunhosa e a Máquina do Som", performing original pieces, all of which were composed by Pedro Abrunhosa.

In 1994, with his new band, Bandemónio, he recorded his first album, Viagens for PolyGram. There, he had the opportunity to collaborate with James Brown’s sax player - Maceo Parker.

He attained triple platinum, a challenging achievement in the Portuguese market, with over 160,000 copies sold of “Viagens”, as well as performing over 120 concerts across Portugal, the United States, Brazil, Macau, Spain, Luxembourg, France, and Italy, amongst others. It is estimated that he performed before a million spectators.

Under the band name "Pedro Abrunhosa e os Bandemónio", the album F was released. A book illustrating the adventures and trips of the group was also released. The book enjoyed the collaboration of two prestigious individuals in the literary and photographic worlds, respectively: Nuno Galopim and Kenton Thatcher. (www.kentonthatcher.com)

In December 1994, the American music magazine "Billboard" gave him front page billing, sparking the start of his international career.

In September 1996, he went to Memphis and Minneapolis where he finished the final phase of mixing and mastering of his second album. It was recorded in Porto, Lisbon, Memphis, and Minneapolis. The final mixing process, as well as a substantial portion of the rhythm and voice recording were supervised by Tom Tucker, technical director of Paisley Park and chief engineer on Prince’s latest albums.

Supported by his label - PolyGram - he invited The New Power Generation Horns to collaborate on this album, formed by Kathy Jensen, Kenni Holmen, Michael Nelson, David Jensen, Steve Strand, Ricky Peterson and Paul Peterson (these last two being Prince’s keyboard player and bassist). He also collaborated with Ozzie Melendez (Tower of Power), Carlos do Carmo, Opus Ensemble, and Rui Veloso. “Tempo” (“Time”), was launched at midnight on November 11, 1996. After its first week on the shelves, the album went double platinum with more than 200,000 copies sold in Portugal.

He started his new tour “Tempo Tour 97/98”, with concerts across Portugal, as well as in France, Canada, Switzerland, Brazil, and the United States. In order to further the internationalization of his work, he went to Madrid, Paris, and London to record some of “Tempo” tracks in Spanish, French, and English.

In May of that same year, he returned to London, to film the video “No Way”, with the collaboration of Tony Vanden Ende.

He composed the music and authored the script for the musical “O Rapaz de Papel” (“The Paper Boy”), presented to the public in March 1998, integrated into “O Festival dos Cem Dias” (The Hundred Day Festival") and preceding the opening of Expo 98.

He produced the solo debut album by vocalist Diana Basto, Amanhecer (“Dawning”), published by PolyGram. He was responsible for the lyrics and music. It was recorded together with Tom Tucker, and was mixed and mastered in Minneapolis and Los Angeles.

He was invited by Caetano Veloso to integrate his show in Expo 98 that has, so far, broken all the booking-office records.

Invited by Expo 98, he performed his show at the Sony Plaza in September. It was the only performance from Portugal's Expo 98 which was broadcast all over the world.

He was later invited to participate in the Manuel de Oliveira film, “La Lettre” (“The Letter”), together with Chiara Mastroianni and Françoise Fabian, where he undertook the leading role. The film was awarded the Prix du Jury in the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.

He produced his third album of originals Silence, finished in November 1999, which includes the presence of Caetano Veloso’s percussionists, Nina Miranda (of Smoke City) and the strings section usually used by Radiohead and dEUS.

He won four Blitz Awards: Record of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Song, and Best Group. A Bordalo, an award given by the press; a Globo de Ouro ("Golden Globe") awarded for the song “Se Eu Fosse Um Dia O Teu Olhar”; and five Nova Era Radio awards, given by radio stations and institutions.

In 1999, he gave a number of lectures throughout Portugal, mostly in libraries, schools, and universities, on topics related to artistic production and creation, literature, music and cinema. Some of lectures were published.

In 2002, he performed two shows at the Cultural Center of Belém, after a one year hiatus. “Intimidade” was received favorably by the critics and public alike. The show, backed by IPAE, toured Portugal and proved to be an artistic and box-office success.

His latest album, Momento, was written and composed solely by him. It has the participation of the Helicon String Quartet. Manoel de Oliveira, the famous Portuguese director, directed the short film "Momento", as a video for the first single and title track off the album.

In Portugal, Momento reached double platinum, and was the most played album on radio. Pedro Abrunhosa released the album in Brazil through Universal, with the participation of local artists such as Zélia Duncan, Lenine, Sandra de Sá, and Adriana Calcanhoto. (His songs are performed in Brazil by a number of artists such as Elba Ramalho, Zeca Baleiro, Sandra Sá, and Rio Soul or Syang, among others.)

His first DVD, Intimidade went double platinum in just 2 weeks.

Currently, he is recording and preparing the release of his new album, along with a tour that will run through Portugal, Brazil, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. He is a standing board member of the Portuguese Authors Society.

Since April 12, 2010 his album "Longe" (meaning "Far away") is available in the stores, time when it was also released its latest website - http://www.abrunhosa.com/. The appearance of the site is modified according to the time of the day when you visit it, accompanied by sound effects adapted to time and place that the background images evoke. It was a project developed by two companies of Oporto (Portugal): Basepoint (Development) - http://www . basepoint.pt - and Campo Visual (Design) - http://www.campovisual.com -.

Personal life[link]

Pedro Abrunhosa is guarded about his personal life.

See also[link]

• Music of Portugal

References[link]

1. ^ Pedro Abrunhosa no Parlamento contra a pirataria.

External links[link]

• Pedro Abrunhosa official website