Marisa Silva Rocha

Marisa Silva Rocha is a Portuguese-American Fadista, brought up in the "Little Portugal" neighborhood of San Jose California, and currently resides in the Central Valley, in a town called Hilmar. Her Portuguese lineage comes from both sides of her parents; 1st generation born in the U.S. on her father's side, and 3rd generation born in San Jose on her mother's side. Her father is from Paradinha Viseu, Portugal and came to the U.S. in the 1980's, in search for a better life. Her mother was born in San Jose, California as well as her maternal grandfather, and her maternal grandmother was from Manadas/Terreiros San Jorge, Azores. Her maternal grandfather's parents were also originally from the Azores and came to the U.S. in the early 1900's, and settled in San Jose California, where they started a Dairy partnership business. Marisa has enjoyed singing since she was a child, has loved Fado music since her late teens and began singing Fado in 2016, after being mestre (along side Falicia Arruda) in "Sonhos Desfeitos" Carnaval dance group for G.C.C.P. de São José. This carnaval dance group performed 5 times in California and 8 times in the East Coast in 2016. Marisa has participated in many Fado events (public and private), festivals and fundraisers for the American audience, as well as the Portuguese-American audience, within California as well as Idaho (2023). She will be singing Fado out of state again, in Rhode Island (2024). Marisa released her first single, "Alfama" on 7-9-21, as well as a featured music video, that can be found on Youtube as well as Facebook. Her single "Alfama" can be found on all music streaming platforms. She is also the host of the radio program, turned podcast, "Amá CONVERSA", that features interviews with local/domestic & international figures of the Portuguese community , paired with amazing music, both contemporary and classic. Each episode is also paired with video interviews that can be found on her personal Youtube channel, under Marisa Silva Rocha. There are two seasons of the podcast, and 61 total episodes thus far (2021-2023). Marisa released her first album, as well as second single (her first original Fado, "Este Fado Tão Amado") on her 33rd birthday, 9-30-22. The CD features 8 traditional Fados with her own twist, as well as her original. The musicians on her album include Chico Avila on Guitarra Portuguesa, Manuel Escobar on Viola, and John Cardadeiro on the bass. She released a second music video of her original fado song, "Este Fado Tão Amado" on 11-23-23, sponsored by Martins Bros Dairy & Coudelaria Martins (of Hilmar, CA). You can watch the music video on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.