The son of divorced parents, he studied at Casa Pia, where he stayed between 1978 and 1989, where he attended the Graphic Arts course and learned music.
He was a top Amateur Wrestling competition athlete. In 1989, at the World Championship for Seniors in Martigny (Switzerland), he reached the eighth position.
His first contact with the general public took place through the television program Chuva de Estrelas, on SIC, where he won second place performing the song “Ao Passar Um Navio”, by the Delfins.
His first album, Segredos, produced by Renato Jr., was released on November 4, 1997. The way to the record was prepared by two singles, “Ninguém é de Ningém” and “Louco por Ti”, with great success.
In 1999, the album Outra Vez was released, which was certified platinum. The recordings took place in London at the famous Townhouse Studios with production by Luís Jardim. The album includes songs like “Nada de Nada” (the first single), “Não Quero Ver-te Chorar”, “Deixa Cair”, “Ternura” or “Corri”.
He is nominated, for the second time, for the Golden Globes in the category of Best Interpreter. The theme “Mentira” is also elected for the Best Song category.
The album Falar Por Sinais, released in 2001, sold around 70,000 units. The video for the theme “Um Resto de Tudo” is recorded in Barcelona and “Não Há” is chosen for the soundtrack of a Portuguese tv novel.
He won two Golden Globes, in the 2001 edition, in the categories of Best Individual Interpreter and Best Song for “Não Há”.
In 2003 he was invited to do the 1st part of Bryan Adams’ Iberian tour, with concerts in Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Porto and Guimarães.
In June 2004 he performs in the first edition of Rock In Rio – Lisbon. In November 2004, “Tudo Bem” was released, recorded in Vancouver, Canada, at Bryan Adams’ studios and with the musicians who usually accompany the international artist. The album features, again, the production of Luís Jardim. “Mais Que Uma Vez” and “Tudo Bem” are chosen for singles.
In 2005, at the invitation of Jorge Palma, he accompanied the musician on the song “Portugal, Portugal” at OPTIMUS Open Air in Lisbon. In the summer of the same year, he participates in the Sunrise Festival in Albufeira. In 2005 he was again invited by Adams to do the first part of his three concerts in Portugal.
In 2006 he recorded, together with Mafalda Veiga, the album Lado a Lado that takes the two musicians on tour.
In November 2008, the album A Palma e a Mão was released. “Um Volto Já” was the first single. Jorge Palma participates in the song dedicated to him (“Meu Caro Jorge”) and Zé Pedro collaborates in the song “Palco de Feras” dedicated to Xutos & Pontapés. Pedro Abrunhosa wrote the lyrics to the song that gives the album its title).
In 2009, he recorded his first live album at the Coliseu dos Recreios, in Lisbon, called precisely O Coliseu.
The album “Desassossego” was released on December 10, 2012. The album was produced by João Martins Sela, mixed by Adam Kasper and features Mónica Ferraz, Carlos Nobre (Pacman), Mário Delgado, Alexandre Frazão, among others. The most prominent themes were “Havemos De Lá Chegar” and “Isto Do Amor”.
On November 20, 2015, he released “Identidade”, his 7th album of originals.
In November 2017 João Pedro Pais celebrated his 20th anniversary with a new album “20 Anos”, a sold out concert at CC Olga Cadaval in Sintra, two sold out concerts at Casa da Música in Porto, and two sold out concerts at the Coliseu de Lisbon.
