Azorean businessman Tony Goulart, who lives in California, USA, launched his book “Portuguese Bands of California – 1898-2023” today, Friday, November 24th, in Ponta Delgada, at 6 pm, at the Public Library.
The author, whose origins are on the island of Pico and who lives in California, highlights in this book the various Azoreans who played a vital in establishing the Portuguese bands in California.
Among the prominent names in Tony Goulart’s narrative are two Topenses: José Paulino da Silveira e Costa and Eleutério Borba, both of whom came from different waves of Azorean emigration to California.
Today, in California, some philharmonic bands face challenges, whether training or attracting new generations to join their ranks.
According to Tony Goulart in our newspaper, this difficulty arises because of the multiplicity of opportunities and choices available in big cities, which puts young people off.
Philharmonic bands in California will have to reinvent themselves to preserve this cultural legacy, which, for the moment, is not in danger of extinction.
The author and researcher “discovered” that in addition to the 18 philharmonic bands established since the second wave of emigration from the Azores (1960-1985) – 14 of which are still active – there were 29 others founded during the first wave of emigration (1880-1920).


In addition, the publication also includes the history of 11 other philharmonics that were neither founded nor had a Portuguese name but which at one time had more than fifty percent Azorean or Portuguese-descendant players.
The work includes the historical references of 58 California philharmonics, almost exclusively composed of Azorean musicians.
The publication includes exciting details on many aspects related to the musical art of the philharmonics and essential figures such as the Portuguese-descendant John Philip Sousa and his famous “banda”. The cover is an acrylic painting by Gordon Ouse, whose grandfather emigrated from the Roasais and grandmother from Beira, São Jorge.
Tony Goulart was born in São Caetano, Pico, Azores. He completed 9th grade at the seminaries in the Azores and emigrated to California in 1974.
He worked in fruit picking, cleaning, and gardening before finding a job in construction.
After 3 years of experience in this sector, he started – in partnership with his brother – a company still a reference in the Northern California residential market today.
For the last 7 years, he has worked as a consultant in the construction industry.
He currently manages the company Horizon Drywall Inc. He completed his master’s degree (1996) in Human Resources and Organizational Development at the University of San Francisco.
He has had a strong presence and activity in Northern California’s Portuguese community association movement, particularly in the San José area. Among many other recognitions, he was awarded the Insignia of the Regional Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Azores.

in Diário dos Açores, Osvaldo Cabral, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance)  at California State University, Fresno.