George Tavares, born Fernando Jorge Tavares Silva in 1970 on the island of Maio, Cape Verde, grew up in a single-parent household raised by his mother, Albertina Tavares. Despite financial hardships, he had a happy childhood, balancing studies, work, and household chores. His passion for music began in primary school, encouraged by his teacher Euclides Santos Évora. He later joined the island’s first electronic band, “Os Maenses,” blending traditional and international influences. Self-taught on the guitar, he developed his musical skills through borrowed instruments. Over time, his school performances became frequent, and he eventually composed his first song, a heartfelt tribute to his homeland.
George Tavares é o pseudónimo do cantor e compositor cabo-verdiano Fernando Jorge Tavares Silva, nascido aos 20 de Novembro de 1970, na pacata localidade de Morro, na ilha do Maio. No seio de uma família monoparental, como muitas outras famílias cabo-verdianas, George Tavares é o terceiro filho de Albertina Tavares, sua musa inspiradora, que o criou sozinha.
A vida no Morro foi marcante, apesar da necessidade que a familia passava, George teve uma infancia feliz. Entre o trabalho nas FAIMO e como ajudante de pedreiro, continuou fazendo os seus estudos, ajudando a sua mãe nos trabalhos domésticos, jogando a bola e brincando como qualquer outra criança da sua idade. Ainda na escola primária, teve os seus primeiros e tímidos contactos com a música, pelas mãos do seu professor Euclides Santos Évora. Sempre incentivado, pelo já citado professor, que também era executande de vioão e piano, que notando o seu jeito com a música, mais particularmente, pelo canto, fez com que George ganhasse mais gosto e confiança, por essa forma de expressão artística.
Desde muito cedo começou a cantar, tendo ingressado no primeiro agrupamento musical electrónico da ilha “Os Maenses”. Numa mistura do tradicional com o internacional, “Os Maenses” tocavam e cantavam músicas de bandas e artistas como Bob Marley, Roberto Carlos, Fábio Júnior, Norberto Tavares, Bulimundo, Os Tubarões, Finaçon, entre outros.
Para além de cantar, George Tavares também aprendeu a tocar guitarra, essa foi uma expreiência que nasceu, das “beatas de guitarra”, ou seja, das vezes que alguns colegas, filhos de emigrantes, que tinham uma guitarra em casa, o emprestavam. Durante esse período, ele passava o seu tempo livre autonomamente descobrindo e aprendendo algumas notas e, a partir daí, começou a fazer os seus primeiros acordes na guitarra.
Na escola, as apresentações nas festas foram ficando cada vez mais constantes e, em casa, começou a rabiscar algumas frases, até que, nascera então a sua primeira composição, sua primeira música, uma homenagem, e o expressar de um rapazinho cabo-verdiano à sua terra.
George Tavares is the pseudonym of the Cape Verdean singer and songwriter Fernando Jorge Tavares Silva, born on November 20, 1970, in the quiet town of Morro, on the island of Maio.
Raised in a single-parent household, like many other Cape Verdean families, George Tavares is the third child of Albertina Tavares, his muse and inspiration, who raised him alone.
Life in Morro was significant—despite the hardships his family faced, George had a happy childhood. Between working for FAIMO and assisting as a construction helper, he continued his studies, helped his mother with household chores, played soccer, and enjoyed childhood games like any other kid his age. While still in primary school, he had his first shy encounters with music, guided by his teacher, Euclides Santos Évora. Constantly encouraged by this teacher—who was also a guitarist and pianist—George developed a passion for music, particularly singing, which grew stronger with time and practice.
From an early age, he began singing and later joined the island’s first electronic musical group, “Os Maenses.” Mixing traditional and international influences, “Os Maenses” played and performed songs by artists and bands such as Bob Marley, Roberto Carlos, Fábio Júnior, Norberto Tavares, Bulimundo, Os Tubarões, Finaçon, and others.
In addition to singing, George Tavares also learned to play the guitar. This experience emerged from what he called “guitar leftovers”—moments when some friends, children of emigrants who had guitars at home, would lend them to him. During this period, he spent his free time independently discovering and learning chords, gradually mastering his first notes on the guitar.
At school, his performances at celebrations became increasingly frequent, and at home, he started scribbling phrases. Eventually, his first composition was born—a tribute, the heartfelt expression of a young Cape Verdean boy to his homeland.