Like most extranjeros we assumed that flamenco was simply a Spanish form of dance but in fact it is more about music and song than dance.Last night we watched the 2005 biopic "Camarón" about the famous flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla on Canal+ 1.
El Camarón de la Isla was born in 1950 and died at the age of 42 of lung cancer.
His uncle José nicknamed him Camarón which is Spanish for "Shrimp" because he was blonde haired and fair skinned.
At the age of eight he began to sing at inns and bus stops with Rancapino to earn money. At sixteen he won first prize in the Festival del Cante Jondo in Mairena de Alcor.
El Camarón then went to Madrid with Miguel de los Reyes and in 1968 became a resident artist at the Torres Bermejas Tablao where he remained for twelve years.There he met Paco de Lucía with whom he recorded nine albums between 1969 and 1977. The two toured extensively together during this period. As Paco de Lucía became more occupied with solo concert commitments, El Camarón worked with one of Paco's students, Tomatito.
At the age of 23, Camarón married Dolores Montoya, a gypsy girl from La Linea de La Concepcion who he nicknamed "La Chispa" (The Spark). At the time La Chispa was only fourteen. Shortly afterwards the couple had two children, and were eventually to have a total of four.
Many consider El Camarón to be the single most popular and influential flamenco "cantaor" of the modern period. Although his work brought criticism from some traditionalists, he was one of the first to feature an electric bass in his songs. This was a turning point in the history of Flamenco music that helped distinguish Nuevo Flamenco.
Years ago We bought a CD from Marks and Spencer entitled "Memories of Spain" which features several tunes by Camaron de la Isla, Paco de Lucia and Tomatito. At last we know a bit more about some of the artists on the CD.
PS For those who want to see flamenco at its best, apparently the taberna "El Toro y la Luna" at the Pza. Mestre Ripoll in Valencia is the place to go.
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