1954 – “PORTUGUESE HONOR SINGER AT DINNER – Amália Rodrigues, one of Portugal’s leading singers, was an honored guest at a banquet last night at a banquet hall last night in the U.P.S.E.S. Hall, 2818 Addison St. (now aka. Avenida do Portugal – ed.). Miss Rodrigues, who took time out from a tour of American cities to visit San Diego, was applauded by more than 350 persons (full capacity) at the dinner, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Armando E. & Mary E. Santos, of 3568 Quimby St. The Portuguese songstress, called the ‘Queen of the Fado’ – or ‘Blues’ – in her native land, was accompanied here by Mr. Jaime Santos and Mr. Moreira Santos, guitarists who are touring with her.”
(*Source: San Diego EVENING TRIBUNE newspaper – Wednesday, February 10, 1954 – Pg. 26)
*Editorial Note: While Amália did not ‘perform’ per se at our local U.P.S.E.S. Hall, she is nevertheless much beloved and likely the most famous Portuguese female celebrity *ever*. — For the record, famed fadista MARIZA also has been in San Diego, performing beautifully at Humphrey’s on Shelter Island; and Californian fado singers have also performed in our Hall, most recently (June 30, 2023) when singers David Silveira Garcia, Angela Brito, and Amanda G. DaRosa (with musicians Helder Carvalheira, Manuel Mendes and Alcino Carvalheira, on [in order] Guitarra Portuguesa, Guitar, and Bass) performed spectacularly well here also.