The history of Val Xalino! Val Xalino was born in Cape Verde Islands, São Vicente in 1953. His mother Maria was working at the hospital of São Vicente where she was an exellent cook. Val Xalinos father was a great man and a famous artist on São Vicente in the fifties and sixties. His name was Armando Jon Xalino. He produced hand-made guitars and had a workshop together with his brothers Eduardo Jon Xalino and Eddy Moreno. Even Val Xalinos older brothers worked at the workshop and learned the art of costructing hand-made guitars. Val Xalino did spend a lot of time in the shop but never really learned how to cunstruct a guitar. He spent more time learning in school and graduated at Liceu in Mindelo. After his studies he decided to leave the country and start working on a ship. Val Xalino did this for the same reason as many other Capeverdeans did. His intention was to make money and to send it back to his family in Cape Verde. At the age of 18 he left and began his life at sea as a sailor. He visited 72 countries while he was travelling around the world but he never really settled down until the year of 1977. It was that year he arrived in Gothenburg on a ship from Holland. Musical background! Val Xalino´s whole family is involved in the history of traditional acustic music from Cape Verde. Many of them entertained the inhabitantes of Mindelo with "serenatas" but also the Governor of Portugal. The musicians where especielly invited to his resident in Mindelo for entertainment and the musicians gave the expression "noite Caboverdiana" a meaning. Eduardo Jon Xalino was one of the invited to the resident but the thing that he´s most famous for is his cooperation with Humbertona. They made the instrumental master piece "Sodade" together and wrote an important chapter in Cape Verdean music history. Eduardo Jon Xalino also recorded songs together with Tazinho and they made several albums together. Even the female part of the family was involved in the music. For example Djuta who had a great success in Portugal and Africa with Eddy Moreno in the fifties. She was and still is a great guitar player and an exellent singer. One of their greatest songs is called "Grandeza". Val Xalino himself learned fast in his early years how to handle a guitar and he was soon allowed to join the family when they where performing. Life in Gothenburg! Val Xalino is now living in Gothenburg where he has his family and his two sons Roberto and Ricardo. He began his singing career in Sweden long before they were born. Val was actually the first Capeverdean to start singing and playing capeverdian music with different groups and bands. He played all types of music like Rock n´Roll, Coladera, Morna, Blues and Reggae. He participated in festivals in Scandinavia and recorded music in different studios with several artists. He was the first Capeverdean ever to introduce Capeverdian music to people in Scandinavia. Most famous work, so far... The most famous work so far in the carear of Val Xalino is "Dança Dança t manchê". The LP came out in 1987 and was an incredable hit in Cape Verde. Another famous song of that recording is "Praia de baia" It was so big that it was played even on the radio in Sweden. The new CD Grandeza! The brand new cd Val Xalino recently has released is called Grandeza. It contains traditional music from Cape Verde like Morna, Coladera and Funana but it also contains Reggae. Val Xalino has found his inspiration in his life and from his experiences in life. The music is about joy, misfortune and the life as a Capverdean emigrant. The track Grandeza is a former hit that his uncle Eddy Moreno had back in the fifties. The both artists had planned to make a modern recording of the song but when Eddy Moreno tragically passed away the oppertunity dissapeared. Val Xalino then made a decision to record the song by himself. To name the new album Grandeza was his son Roberto´s idea who thought that it would be a nice tribute to a great artist and a beloved relative. Val Xalinos new cd is coming soon! Val Xalino is currently in the studio working on his new cd. This project will be a collaboration with his cousin Calú Bana. The two artists are planning to release the album towards the end of year 2005. The album will contain new material and includes a morna which is dedicated to the recently deceased composer and singer Djô D´eloy (cousin to both Val Xalino and Calú Bana). Music made by Val Xalino! 1984 - Dilema d´imigração - only his own compositions 1987 - Dança dança t´manchê - only his own compositions 1993 - Emoções - only his own compositions 2005 - Grandeza - his own compositions and songs written by Eddy Moreno & Djô Diloy