Camarón de la Isla
Encyclopedia
Camarón de la Isla was the stage name of a spanish
(Gypsy) flamenco
singer José Monje Cruz who is sometimes also credited as Camarón de la Isla.
He was born in San Fernando, Cádiz, Spain
. His mother was Juana Cruz Castro, a basket weaver ("La Canastera"), whose gift of singing was a strong early influence. His father, Juan Luis Monje, was also a singer as well as a blacksmith, and had a forge where Camarón worked as a boy. His uncle José nicknamed him Camarón (Spanish for "Shrimp") because he was blonde 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 at the Festival del Cante Jondo
in Mairena de Alcor. Camarón then went to Madrid
with Miguel de los Reyes and in 1968 became a resident artist at the Tablao Torres Bermejas 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, Camarón worked with one of Paco's students, Tomatito
.
In 1976, at the age of 25, Camarón married Dolores Montoya, a Romani girl from La Línea de la Concepción
whom he nicknamed "La Chispa" (The Spark). At the time La Chispa was only 16. The couple had four children.
Many consider Camarón to be the single most popular and influential flamenco cantaor (singer) of the modern period. Although his work was criticized by 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.
In later years, his health deteriorated due to heavy smoking and drug abuse. In 1992, José Monge Crúz died of lung cancer in Badalona
, Spain
. It was estimated that more than 100,000 people attended his funeral.
On December 5, 2000, the Ministry of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía posthumously awarded to Camarón the ´Llave de Oro del Cante´, the Golden Key of Flamenco. This was only the fourth key awarded since 1862.
In 2005, director Jaime Chávarri
released the biopic Camarón in Spain starring Óscar Jaenada as Camarón and Verónica Sánchez
- star of popular Spanish TV series Los Serrano
- as La Chispa. The film, produced in consultation with Camarón's widow, was subsequently nominated for several Goya Awards
.
In 2006, Isaki Lacuesta directed La Leyenda del Tiempo (The Legend of Time), in which a Japanese woman visits the place of Camarón's birth to learn to sing exactly like him.
(Their first albums were nameless, but were known among aficionados by the name of the first track)
with Paco de Lucía
and Tomatito
with Tomatito
Other
The titles given for the first five albums with Paco de Lucía
are those in popular usage, being the titles of the first tracks. Formally, all of them are entitled El Camarón de la Isla con la colaboración especial de Paco de Lucía with the exception of Canastera.
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
(Gypsy) flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
singer José Monje Cruz who is sometimes also credited as Camarón de la Isla.
He was born in San Fernando, Cádiz, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. His mother was Juana Cruz Castro, a basket weaver ("La Canastera"), whose gift of singing was a strong early influence. His father, Juan Luis Monje, was also a singer as well as a blacksmith, and had a forge where Camarón worked as a boy. His uncle José nicknamed him Camarón (Spanish for "Shrimp") because he was blonde 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 at the Festival del Cante Jondo
Cante jondo
Cante jondo is a vocal style in flamenco. An unspoiled form of Andalusian folk music, the name means deep song It is generally considered that the common traditional classification of flamenco music is divided into three groups of which the deepest, most serious forms are known as cante jondo...
in Mairena de Alcor. Camarón then went to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
with Miguel de los Reyes and in 1968 became a resident artist at the Tablao Torres Bermejas where he remained for twelve years.
There he met Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
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, Camarón worked with one of Paco's students, Tomatito
Tomatito
José Fernández Torres, known as Tomatito , is a Spanish Romani flamenco guitarist. He grew up in a musical family, including two uncles: Niño Miguel, a flamenco guitarist, and Antonio, a professional guitarist....
.
In 1976, at the age of 25, Camarón married Dolores Montoya, a Romani girl from La Línea de la Concepción
La Línea de la Concepción
La Línea de la Concepción is a town in Spain, in the province of Cádiz in Andalucia. It lies on the eastern isthmus of the Bay of Gibraltar on the border with the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, with which it has close economic and social links...
whom he nicknamed "La Chispa" (The Spark). At the time La Chispa was only 16. The couple had four children.
Many consider Camarón to be the single most popular and influential flamenco cantaor (singer) of the modern period. Although his work was criticized by 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.
In later years, his health deteriorated due to heavy smoking and drug abuse. In 1992, José Monge Crúz died of lung cancer in Badalona
Badalona
Badalona is a city in eastern Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the comarca of the Barcelonès, near the city of Barcelona and part of its metropolitan area. It is situated on the left bank of the small Besòs River and on the Mediterranean Sea, backed by the Serra de la Marina mountain range...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It was estimated that more than 100,000 people attended his funeral.
On December 5, 2000, the Ministry of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía posthumously awarded to Camarón the ´Llave de Oro del Cante´, the Golden Key of Flamenco. This was only the fourth key awarded since 1862.
In 2005, director Jaime Chávarri
Jaime Chávarri
Jaime Chávarri y de la Mora is a Spanish actor, screenwriter and film director. His mother María de la Mora y Maura was a maternal granddaughter of Antonio Maura....
released the biopic Camarón in Spain starring Óscar Jaenada as Camarón and Verónica Sánchez
Verónica Sánchez
Verónica Sánchez Calderón is a Spanish actress. She made her debut in theatre in 1996, and came to media attention as Eva Capdevila in the Telecinco series Los Serrano in 2003. Sánchez has since developed a successful film career...
- star of popular Spanish TV series Los Serrano
Los Serrano
Los Serrano is a Spanish television drama comedy which premiered on April 22, 2003 and is played on the channel Telecinco. It tells the story of the Serrano family, who lives in Round Santa Justa No 133, located in the fictional neighborhood of Santa Justa, in the Ribera del Manzanares, in Madrid...
- as La Chispa. The film, produced in consultation with Camarón's widow, was subsequently nominated for several Goya Awards
Goya Awards
The Goya Awards, known in Spanish as los Premios Goya, are Spain's main national film awards, considered by many in Spain, and internationally, to be the Spanish equivalent of the American Academy Awards....
.
In 2006, Isaki Lacuesta directed La Leyenda del Tiempo (The Legend of Time), in which a Japanese woman visits the place of Camarón's birth to learn to sing exactly like him.
Partial discography
with Paco de LucíaPaco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
(Their first albums were nameless, but were known among aficionados by the name of the first track)
- Al Verte las Flores Lloran (1969)
- Cada Vez que Nos Miramos (1970)
- Son Tus Ojos Dos Estrellas (1971)
- Canastera (1972)
- Caminito de Totana (1973)
- Soy Caminante (1974)
- Arte y Majestad (1975)
- Rosa María (1976)
- Castillo de Arena (1977)
- Camaron en la Venta de Vargas (2006)
with Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
and Tomatito
Tomatito
José Fernández Torres, known as Tomatito , is a Spanish Romani flamenco guitarist. He grew up in a musical family, including two uncles: Niño Miguel, a flamenco guitarist, and Antonio, a professional guitarist....
- Como el Agua (1981)
- Calle RealCalle Real (album)Calle Real is a 1983 album by Andalusian flamenco singer Camarón, with the collaboration of Paco de Lucía and Tomatito.-Track listing:#"Romance de la Luna" – 4:05#"Esclavo de Tus Besos" – 4:18#"Yo Vivo Enamorao" – 4:01#"Yo Soy el Viento" – 3:23...
(1983) - Viviré (1984)
- Potro de Rabia y Miel (1992)
with Tomatito
Tomatito
José Fernández Torres, known as Tomatito , is a Spanish Romani flamenco guitarist. He grew up in a musical family, including two uncles: Niño Miguel, a flamenco guitarist, and Antonio, a professional guitarist....
- Te lo Dice Camarón (1986)
- Flamenco Vivo (1987)
- Camarón Nuestro (1994)
- Paris 1987 (1999)
Other
- La Leyenda del TiempoLa Leyenda del TiempoLa Leyenda del Tiempo is the tenth album by Spanish singer Camarón. It is usually regarded as one of the most important albums in the history of flamenco music.-Track listing:#"La Leyenda del Tiempo" – 3:41...
(1979) (Released as a solo album) - Soy Gitano (1989) (Released with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with guest appearances by Tomatito)
The titles given for the first five albums with Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
are those in popular usage, being the titles of the first tracks. Formally, all of them are entitled El Camarón de la Isla con la colaboración especial de Paco de Lucía with the exception of Canastera.