COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
EUROSTAR HALL OF FAME
As a part of Australia's vibrant Portuguese-Australian community, Eurostar Entertainment supports and recognises the contributions of the people who add colour, life, and music to the community. This page recognises some of those people.
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Do you know someone who deserves to be included in our Hall of Fame?
Nominate them by emailing Joe Teixeira:
MR TONY VASCONCELOS
'MR TOCAFINA'
Mr Tony Vasconcelos/'Mr Tocafina' (right) pictured with his wife Elizabeth (left) and Joe Teixeira, Founder of Eurostar Entertainment (centre)
Antonio 'Tony' Vasconcelos, known widely in the Australian Portuguese community by his stage name 'Mr Tocafina', is one of the best-known Portuguese musicians in the Wollongong and Shellharbour regions. A painter by day, Tony has made music his life and passion.
From a very young age, when he was told by his father that if he could cry, he should be able to sing, he has made music one of his greatest passions. His performing journey began when he formed the band ‘5 Estrelas’ (‘5 Stars’) with his brothers, performing with them for 20 years from 1974 to 1994.
The group gradually grew smaller as the brothers married and had families of their own. Antonio performed for five years as part of the duo ‘2 Amigos’ before deciding to form another family act, this time featuring his brother, daughter and two of his nieces. And this is where the name ‘Tocafina’ was born. Translating as ‘Fine Touch’ in English, the newly formed group performed for a ten years from 2000 to 2010 until, again, marriage and family called and Tony once again found himself performing solo.
But he kept the name ‘Mr Tocafina’, and is now a prolific ‘one man band’ in the Illawarra region, performing regularly at the Portuguese clubs and combining traditional Portuguese music with his humour and entertaining personality.