Flamenco Singers Flamenco

Adela Fernández Jiménez, also well know as the flamenco singer "Adela La Chaqueta", but she liked to be called "La Gitana" (the gipsy). Born in Cadiz in 1918 and died in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz) in 1995.
Descendant of a huge flamenco family of "chalecos" and "pantalones", daughter of "El Mono", sister (because of her father) of Tomás "El Chaqueta", José "El Chaleco", Antonio "El Chaqueta", Imperio de Granada and Salvador "El Pantalon", cousin of Juan Doblones and Canono, aunt of "El Chaqueton" and "El Flecha". Also related to the "Tio Juan" from Jerez, father of Nano de Jerez.
On October 12. in 1933, with 15 years old, she arrived in Madrid, meking her debut in "Las Calles de Cadiz" show, presented by La Argentinita.
Almost during all her career she performed in different tablaos accompanied by famous artists as Manolo Caracol, Pepe Marchena, Manuel Vallejo, Tomás and Pastora Pavón.
She lived many years in Madrid, working in "Los Canasteros", "La Venta del Gato" and "La Zambra".
She had a voice with a young and nice tone, she was an expert in the festive singings and the singings called "ida y vuleta".
There are not many recordings but she is one of the fundamental singers of her time.
In 1986 and 1987, she starded showing "El Sur y la Petenera" leaded by Manuel Vargas.
In 1986 she also performed in New York together with Fernanda de Utrera, El Chocolate, Juan Habichuela and El Farruco, in the show "Flamenco Puro".
Before her death in 1995, she performed in Cadiz, during the Alegrias competition.

Agustina Lopez Pavon, also known as "Tina Pavon", born in 1948, on June 30. in San Fernando, Cadiz.
From San Fernando she took the roots of the singing, inherited by her maternal family. For familiar reasons all the family moved to Jerez de la Frontera in Cadiz.
At twenty years old she moved to Huelva, where she begins to sing in "peñas" (groups) and participates in competitions.
In 1982 she wins the first awars of Mairena del Alcor, and in 1983 she obtains the National Awars in the "Cantes de Cadiz". Now she runs the "Aula de cante" for the "Peña Flamenca de Huelva.

Discography

Ecos de la Alameda
Mi cante como bandera
Sueños del Rocío
Sal y duende
Rosa de cera

Alfonso Salmerón Salmerón. Also known artistically as "Alfonso Salieron", born in Almeria in 1944, October 23.

At seven years old he won his first competition at the "Radio Juventud", his parents were singing amateurs. At 14 he moved to Barcelona with José Sorroche and Domingo Garbín, and he lived there for 2 years.
The he came back to Almeria and he launched a snack bar with his brother Manuel. The military service in Madrid was an important period, during his free time he worked for the "Arcos de Cuchilleros":
He learned perseverance and regularity. He is settled and got a contract in Las Brujas, Zambra, Cuevas de Nemesio, the Canasteros and the Café Chinitas. His marriage gave him stability.

In 1985 he won the first award of the "Concurso Nacional de Córdoba" with tarantos. After a performance in the area of Avila, he created a flamenco group, "peña", under his name. During this time he developped the "p'alante" singing.
Singing "p'atrás" he had professional experiences with some prestigious "bailaores" like María Rosa, Antonio Gadés, Matilde Coral, Mario Maya, el Güito, Sara Lezama, Carmen Mora, he also worked with Antonio for the National Ballet.

In 1985 and 1986 he joined the Carmen opera with José Carreras and Von Barajan. This experience marked his career and he familiarized with the classical music, he also acquired a responsible and depp commitment with his own art.

Nowadays he works for the Royal Conservatory of Madrid, giving singing classes and performing as "cantaor" for the Spanish dancing. This great "cantaor" excels in "compas" singings, like "alegrias", "bulerias" and "tangos" and also in the singing of his native land, basically in "taranto". He interprets this kind of singing with a sensitive feeling, trying to comunicate his affection fir his homeland to his audience. His last adventure: director of a big production, made up of 10 musicians in the "Teatro José Saramago" in Madrid, a box-office hit.

Alfredo Tejada Zurita, also known artistically as "Alfredo Tejada", born in Malaga, in 1979, on May 17. At 10 years old his family moved to Granada. His gipsy mother was a "cantaora" performing in "El Jaleo", after 4 years of musical studies the guitarist Luis Millan discovered him and he introduced him to the flamenco circles of Granada.
He won a few awards in different Andalusian competitions. He worked in the cave of Rocio del Sacro Monte in Granada. He also worked in live performences on the Miguel Ochando disc "Memorias", in Madrid with Adrian Gala.
Alfredo is a great hope.
In the Chumbera auditorium (Murcia) he left a good feeling and he proved with three mining "minero" songs (taranta, minera and cartagenera from Chacón)that he was brave. After that, he interpreted an original "farruca" with new tones, very melodic, close to a ballad.

Angel de Luiggi Miranda, non-gypsy singer also known as "Angel de Alora", born in 1917, November 18. in Malaga and died in the same city when he was 75 years old, in 1992, March 26.
He has a few works when he was a child, messenger for printing works, office boy , but primptly he started like "cantaor" during the flamenco opera period. He took part in tours withimportant singers like El Pena, Carbonerillo, Pepe Pinto, La Niña de los Peines and others.
With eighteen years he went on tour with Corruco de Algeciras, then he stayed a long time in Madrid, working for the "tablao" La Zambra with Rosa Duran, Pericon de Cadiz, Rafael Romero, Juan Varea and Pepe el Culata. Angel de Alora always excelled at singing by malagueñas abd also tangos del Piyayo.

Angel San Pedro Montero. Also known as "Angelillo". Born in Madrid in the neighborhood of Vallecas in 1908, January 12. He died in Buenos Aires, at the Vicente Lopez Hospital because of a digestive hemorrage, getting complicated with a power cut in the operating room, in 1973, November 25.
From Galician parents. When he was young he wanted to be a bullfighter, but he worked as a jeweller's apprentice.
He received his first award at 16 years old in a competition of Puente de Vallecas. Great cantaor, he had a special voice and an incredible power, but above all he had a terrific resistance, the ability to extend a Fandanguillo, a golden voice. The daughter of Juan Simon will be almost an hymn for him.
In 1924, he took part in the Copa Pavon competition, in the theater Pavon in Madrid.
From this time he will perform in Madrid, 1926 in Ciros's - a cabaret with Pepe Marchena, Theater Barbieri. Cine Arguelles, Theater Pavon. Monumental Cinema and Cinema Bilbao, in 1927, Theater Novedades and Monumental Cinema, in 1928 Theater Pavon with the Obra la Copla Andaluza. Then he went on a trip to America during three months.
In 1934 he went around Spain, alternating with a lot of recordings and with the filming of some movies. He became a famous artist.
In 1936 he exiled in Oran and travelled to Argentina with Sabicas where he stayed until 1954.
His departure is due to the political situation in Spain. He did not want to serve the Francoist regime.
Angelillo, like other flamenco performers was a Republican. He had a relation with the movie production company "Filmófono".
He will live 20 years in Argentina, working as an artist and a business man in the automobile sector.
In 1954 he came back to Spain thanks to the friendship of Juan Valderrama. He presents the movie "Suspiros de Triana". In 1956 he performed in the shoes "Romance de uan Clavel" with Marisol Reyes. In 1957 he went back to Buenos Aires.
He is coming back in Spain in 1959 with the show "Cuando Vuelan Mis Canciones" all around Spain with the great Juanito Valderrama. In 1968 he's back in America. His last performances were with Rafael Farina, Juan de la Vara, Los Gaditanos and Amina. In 1972 he's back in Buenos Aires and he will not come back to Spain. He'll die a year after because of a stomach ulcer.

Antonio Chacon García, his artistic name is "Antonio Chacon", born in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz) in 1869 May 16. and died in Madrid in 1929 January 21. Baptized in the parish church of San Miguel in Jerez.
Nobody could imitate him, he excelled in the "malagueños-levantinos" songs and was the first non-gypsy "cantaor" to make the flamenco singing school familiar. Son of unknown parents, his adoptive parents were Antonio Chacón Rodríguez, shoemaker, and Maria Garcia Sanchez. They adopted him and gave him their names. From his youth he helped his father in his work of shoemaker.
In 1886, with 17 years old, on July 26. he dared to sing during the party celebrated for the bullfighter Manuel Hermosilla in Jerez, in the shop "La Rondeña". There were Enrique "El Mellizo" and Joaquín Serna. All of them admired him and "El Mellizo" asked him to perform in the "Velada de los Angeles" in Cadiz.
The same year he is hired by Silverio Franconetti to perform in Sevilla, then he will perform alla round Andalusia with the great artists.
At 20 he got rid of the military duty and Silverio, his master, died. After that terrible moment he'll be four years without singing.
In 1894 he made his come back in the "Café del Burrero", in 1912 he moved to Madrid to perform in the "Gabrieles" and "Café de Fornos".
With 45 years old he went to America with the theater company "Maria Guerrero" performing in the Theater San Martin, in Buenos Aires.
In 1925, he opened the flamenco patio in the hotel "Alfonso XIII" in Sevilla, and as usual he performed in the Palacio de las Dueñas (owned by the Duques de Alba). He got sick and died in 1929 January 21. at home in Madrid. He's buried in the Almudena cemetery.

His favourite lyrics were:

"En la tumba de mi madre
a dar gritos me ponia
y escuche un eco del viento
- No la llames me decia,
que no responden los muertos."

Antonio González Garzón, also well known as "Antonio El Arenero", also known during his youth as "El Rubio Arenero". Born in Sevilla, in the neighbourhood of Triana, Chapina square, in 1925 April 13. and dies in Sevilla in 2004 July 2. Burried in the San Fernando cemetery.
"El Arenero" also excelled for his Solea songs, for his Siguiriya songs and Martinetes songs. They gave him the name of "Arenero"  when he was working as carrying sand from the Guadalquivir river in Winter, and in Summer he was working as carpenter on boats. His father was Antonio Gonzalez "El Rubio".
Considerated as the signatory of the Solea from Triana. We really discovered him in 1976 during a tribute to "El Gordillo" in Triana. After this year he performed in various festivals and songs in Peñas Flamencas, with "Al Teta" and "The Zapatero" he recorded a disc with  songs from Zurraque.

Antonio Lopez Olmo, also known as "Yeye de Cadiz", born in the neighborhood of Santa Maria in the city of Cadiz, in 1948. The name of "Yeye de Cadiz" was given because he belonged to the carnival group "Los Beatles de Cadiz".
He worked with Joaquin Cortes, Maria Rosa, Antonio or Manuela Vargas all around the world. He lived a lot of years in Japan where he owned a tablao until he came back to Madrid to work for the tablao "Torres Bermejas" with Camaron de la Isla, El Güito or Lebrijano.
His first participation in a competition was in 2004 and he won, it was during the "Concurso Nacional de Arte Flamenco" in Cordoba.

Antonio Mejias Portero, also known as "Antonio Mejias", born in Montilla (Cordoba) in 1979 April 17. From a humble family. From school time he excelled with his flamenco solo, and slowly he excelled in his environment. He made his first steps in the neighborhood of "Escuechuela" of Cerrillo, in San José. In 2000 he moved to Priego de COrdoba to work with the ONCE, he suffered from a visual handicap.
In 2006 he recorded his first disc "Amores Ocultos". He shared a show with great artists like. Fosforito, Chano Lobato, Chocolate, Luís de Córdoba, El Pele, El Cabrero, El Lebrijano, Mariana Cornejo, Calixto Sánchez, Aurora Vargas, Pansequito, Arcángel, Julián Estrada, Rancapinos, Tina Pavón, Carmen Linares, Carmen de la Jara, José Meneses, El Polaco, Diego Clavel.

Antonio Molina de Hoces. Also known as "Antonio Molina", born in 1928 March 9. in the neighborhood of Huelin, also known as the neighborhood of "tiredness" in Malaga and died in Madrid in 1992 March 18. because of a pulmonary fibrosis, diagnosed in 1989. Buried in the Almuden Cemetery, in Madrid.
In 1952 he married Angela Tejedor. From 1952 Antonio Molina was the patriarch of an artist saga. They had eight children, among them Angela, Paula, Miguel and Monica, also devoted to the performing and to the music. His granddaughter Olivia Molina is also an actress. One of his last and greatest satisfactions was to see Angela Molina on stage, singins "coplas" of the popular repertoire "La cosas del querer", a musical movie.
His family was poor and he started working at 10 years old as an animals keeper (pigs and rabbits), waiter, milk delivery man, upholsterer apprentice and many more. WIth fourteen, in 1942, he arrived in Madrid to work and in search of a better future.
Until 1949 he alternates works with various competitions, this is the year of his first award: 150 pesetas and a contract of empployment with a record company for "La Voz de su amo", his first disc contained 4 songs "El agua del avellano" and "El macetero". His greates hits were "Soy minero",  "Caballito Bandolero", "El Macetero", "La Estudiantina", "Adiós España" and "Yo quiero ser matador".
In 1954 he established his own show, "Hechizo", in the Calderon Theater. Until 1965 he will perform in various movies, like "El pescador de coplas" in (1953), "Esa voz es una mina" in  (1955),  "Malagueña" in  (1955), "La hija de Juan Simón" in (1956), "Café de Chinitas" in (1957) and  "El Cristo de los Faroles" in  (1957), among others.
He worked a long time with Juanito Valderrama creating shows. Molina had a loud and bright voice. After a few years of retirement he's back again in 1986.
He was a mix between flamenco singing and Andalusian songs, a performer with a incredible voice. The first one to perform in bulls squares in the presence of 10'000 persons.
We can see a statue of the artist in a square of Malaga, work of the sculptor Santiago de Santiago.

Songs:
 
A la nanita nana
A la sombra de un bambú
Adiós a España
Adiós, lucerito mío
Ángela del alma mía
Ave de paso
Ay Carmela
Ay Málaga mía
Barcelona
Barquito de mi amor
Buscando pelea
Caballito Bandolero
Caminito de mis penas
Camino
Camino verde
Campanas de San Lorenzo
Canela y clavo
Cantar, cantar
Cocinero, Cocinero
Como en España ni hablar
Con ese beso
Copla y fortuna
Coplas de la Mezquita
Coplas de mi Andalucía
Cuando siento una guitarra
De contrabando
Dos cruces
El agua del Avellano
El capitán
El cristo de los Faroles
El macetero
En el fondo de la mina
Estudiantina catalana
Estudiantina de Madrid
Gibraltar
La bien pagá
La Campanera
La hija de Juan Simón
La hija de Juan Simón
La jaca más postinera
La serranía
La tortolica
Las murallitas de Cádiz
Malagueña
Manuela la soleares
Mar blanca
Marbella, perla del mar
Mari Rosa o Mar y rosas
María de los Remedios
Mi petenera
Mujer extranjera
Ni Alemania ni Francia
Novia Malagueña
Pena Blanca
Plegaria
Por oro que brilla y suena
Portuguesiña
Preso del desamparo
Puente de plata
Racimos a millares
Rosa Malena
Si a ti te llaman Consuelo
Son tus dientes alhelíes
Soy del norte
Soy el cante
Soy Minero
Soy un pobre presidiario
Te llamaban la Caoba
Tientos del ay, ay
Toros y coplas
Tu fiesta campera
Una mujer extranjera
Una paloma blanca
Veinticuatro cascabeles
Yo quiero ser mataor

Argentina Maria Lopez Tristancho, also known as "La Argentina", born in Huelva in 1984 June 17. In 1998 she obtained an award in the fandangos competition in Huelva, arranged by the Peña Flamenco de la Orden. With 14 years old she joined the group Niños de Huelva and together they produce two albums. Then she creates the group Cané with four friends of Niños de Huelva. They record two discs during the three years of collaboration. "Paco Taranto", "José de la Tomasa" and "Esperanza Fernández" are some of her teachers.
With 12 years, a dance teacher suggested her a singing audition and her life changed. She learned how to sing fandangos in a Peña Flamenca in Huelva for nine years. The name of "Argentina" came from her paternal grandmother, raised in the neighborhood of "El Carmen" in Huelva.

Aurelio Sellés Nondedeu. Born in 1887 in the city of Cadiz, in the street called Santa Maria number 3 and died in Cadiz in 1974 in September 19. because of a vascular collapse.
Also known as "Aurelio de Cadiz" and also as "El Tuerto Aurelio". When he was young he wanted to be a fullfighter and his name was "El Gitano" and he appeared in various bullfights with young bulls but without success.
After working in various places he decided to try the flamenco singing like his brother "El Chele Fateta", and with 25 he started in the flamenco environments, he only performed in parties and intimate gatherings. He was hired outside Spain by amateurs and aristocracy.
He never wanted to work in tablaos, neither in theaters, only once he performed with Pastora Imperio with 38 years old and once in Madrid in "Los Gabrieles" and "Villa Rosa":
In 1965 the "Cátedra de Flamencología y Estudios Folklóricos Andaluces" gave him the "Premio Nacional del Cante" (national award for singing). Manolo Sanlucar was a wholehearted fan. He was excelent singing malagueñas, always singing with a deep emotion. We have to emphasize on his performance during the coronation of the Queen Isabel II if England. Very interesting recordings even if we have not a lot.

Aurora Vargas, born in Sevilla in 1956, in the neighborhood of "Macarena", also known as "Aurora Vargas". She made her debute in the tablaos, singing byu tangos and bulerias in "Los Canasteros", in Madrid, Manolo Caracol was the owner; but also in "Los Gallos" in Sevilla. She is a singer and dancer at the same time, even if she is more interesting as a singer.
She first got married with "Jarillo de Triana" and she accompanied him on tours. "Yeye de Cadiz" will be the one pushing her to sing. She appeared in the Carlos Saura movie "Flamenco" and in 1986 she is recognized like the best revelation artist.
She worked with "Bernarda de Utrera" or José Mercé and many more like Placido Domingo in the movie "Carmen". She also worked with Antonio Gades as first dancer in Paris.
Now she is married to "Pansequito", festive singer, one of the best of the flamenco world.
She worked in England, India and United States. First disc in 1997.

Lole and Manuel are Manuel Molina Jimenez, born in Ceuta in 1948 and Dolores Montoya Rodriguez born in Trianera (Sevilla) in 1954. Son of "El Encajero" and she was the daughter of "La Negra" and Juan Montoya.
In 1975 Manuel y Lole edit their first flamenco album entitled "Nuevo Dia" with the record company "Movieplayer". Their music was not a traditional flamenco music, it has a different rhythm, avant-garde and with bucolic lyrics.
On stage Lole was singing with a flamenco voice and her husband, Manuel, was playing the guitar. Adolescent, Lole shared stages with Camaron de la Isla and performed in tablaos like "Los Grayos" in Sevilla or "Las Brujas" in Madrid. The couple separated in 1993, they had a daughter called Alba. Now Lole and Manuel work for the records company Virgin.

Recordings:

Nuevo dia in 1975.
Pasaje del agua in 1976.
Lole y Manuel in 1977.

Manuel Aranda Zamorano, well known as "Talegón de Córdoba", born in 1944 in the Santa Marina neighborhood, in Cordoba.
Orphan very young and he moved to Madrid, he worked for the tablaos environment, he learned a lot of  the great masters.
He started singing very young with the folk songs, helped by his aunt "La Talegota". He performed in the Duques de Rivas Theater and the Gran Teatro in Cordoba.
Now she sings for the company Blanca del Rey in Madrid, singing classes.

Manuel de los Santo Gallardo, also known as the "Agujeta el Viejo", born ni Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz) in 1908 and died in Rota (Cadiz) in 1976. Profession blacksmith, he received the name of "Agujeta" when he was working in the railways, changing the points (agujas) in the routes.
Agujetas el Viejo got married in Rota with the gypsy Ana Pastor Monje, they had 4 girls and 5 boys. The older, Tomasa, then Juana, Angélica and Maria. For the boys we have Manuel Agujetas, Luis Agujetas, Juan el Gordo, Paco and Diego.
His brothers were Carmen de lso Santos Gallardos, mother of Miguel Pastor de los Santos (Gitanillo de Bronce), Diego "Rubichi", Domingo and "El Chalao".
He'll never become a professional, but he was an inspiration for his sons, grandchild and nephews. We have very little records of his songs.

Manuel de los Santos Pastor, also known artistically as "Agujeta de Jerez", born in Jerez in 1946, in the Calle Acebuche. When he's 1 year the family moved ti Rota, and he came back to Jerez with 15 years old. At 17 he has to do his military duty in the air force.
His beginning as a singer was listening to his father, the great "Agujeta el Viejo" when they were working the forge.
With 8 years old he was singing in bars to win some money, but also was working with his father. Once, "Parrilla el Vieja" invited him to a song, and "Agujera de Jerez" answered :"I said that I was going to improve my life, so I begin to sing".
He also worked as a welder master, he was great at shearing beasts and sheeps, well known from Puerto de Santa Maria to the surrounding area of Sevilla.
An artist of "cante jondo", seguiriyas and soleares. His discography is made up of 19 discs.
His father was the follower of the Manuel Torre school. He continued with the most ancient and old-fashion flamenco form. in 1970, in Madird, he recorded his first disc, accompanied by Manolo Sanlucar and his guitar. In 1977 he's been awarded with a prize: the "Premio Nacional de Cante de la Cátedra de Flamencología de Jerez". He worked with Carlos Saura in the movie "Flamenco" (1994). Agujetas en Paría (Harmonia Mundi, 1996), Agujeta en la soleá (Alia, 1998, under teh labelled Palo Nuevo). He recorded "24 kilates" by seguiriyas, soleares and fandangos.
The French Dominique Abel produced a documentary  "Agujetas cantaor" in 2000.
Then he lived a few years between Mexico and the United States.
He also offered shows in Paris, London, New York, not onlyin Spain. In 1977 he received the award "Premio Nacional de la Cátedra de Flamencología de Jerez". He is the son of an oral tradition that will probably die with him.
Agujetas lives in a house that he is constantly reconstructing. He plants vineyards, he picks tea (tea from Tokyio, his wife is from Tokyo, she is a very special dancer, different. None one gypsy woman can dance like she does.).
Manuel is pure essence.

Miguel Vargas Jiménez, also known as "Bambino", born in 1940 February 12. in Utrera, province of Sevilla, in the Calle Nueva, a neighborhood of gypsies and died in Utrera in 1999 May 5.
Son of Manuel Vargas Torres "Chamona", barber, and Francisca Jiménez Ramírez "Frasquita", cantaora and bailaora, but performing only for her family, sister of Manuel "De Angustias".
Miguel's father wanted him to work as a barber, a secure profession. He wanted to become a football player, he played as a central defender. A whole life passion.
His other passion was singing, something very natural for him, his mother and brother "Chamona" were singers.
In 1957 May 15. the gypsies of Utrera decide to celebrate an anual gypsy gathering.
Each family brought what they can, somthing to drink or to eat to share and to celebrate this special day. For the inauguration some artists were present, like "Diego el de la Gloria", "Bernarda", "Pepa", "Perrate", "Manuel", "Gaspar de Utrera", and "Fernanda". "Diego el de Gloria" performed a version of "Bambino Piccolino" by Renato Carasone. From this night he received the name of "El Bambino".
His cousin Juan el Lebrijano took him to the tablao "La Venta de Antequera", where the "Gitanillo de Triana" realized that Miguel had great abilitie to sing and he hired him for "El Duende", in Madrid, tablao owned by Pastora Imperio.
In 1963 the bullfighter "Gitanillo de Triana" took him to Madrid, to the tablao "El Duende". After that he sung in Pasapoga, in Las Cuevas, in Los Canasteros with Caracol, in Torres Bermejas with LA Paquera and Faíco. In the 60s and 70s Bambino had a lot of fans. Places like Zar, Morocco, Florida Park or Mayte Commodore in Madrid; and Tabú, Las Vegas or El Bombín in Barcelona, witnesses of his best moments on stages. Thanks to the bullfighter "Gitamillo de Triana" he also performed in tablaos like Real Venta de Antequera in Sevilla and El Duende in Madrid. He was the King if the Rumba. His reperoire included very flamenco coplas, boleros and rancheras.
In 1961 he already was singing in the Venta Real de Antequera in Sevilla. Bambino recorded 500 songs. His first disc was recorded with 24 years old with Philips, including the famous "El poeta lloró": He also worked for the tablao "Torres Bermejas" with La Paquera de Jerez and the dance "Faico".
He died at his sister's home in el Tinte, neighborhood of Utrera, because of a larynx cancer, in 1999 May 5.