El flamenco has just added a new one Gold Medal for Merit in Fine ArtsThis Wednesday, May 27, in a ceremony held at the Rojas Theatre of Toledo and presided over by the Kings Felipe VI y Letizia, has received one of the highest cultural distinctions awarded by the Spanish State Jose Soto Soto, better known by the stage name of Jose Mercé, in recognition of a career spanning more than five decades dedicated to flamenco which has established him as one of the great voices of his generation, and undoubtedly one of the most media-savvy personalities in art jondo figure.
The medal ceremony, corresponding to the 2024 edition, brought together 38 personalities and entities from the Spanish cultural sphere. Among the awardees were also prominent figures from film, music, literature, and the performing arts, including film stars such as Maribel Verdú, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Carmen Machi, Josep Maria Pou and Eduard Fernández to writers like Bernardo atxaga, directors like Peter Portabella or musicians like the rapper Kase O., the rock group The planets, the duo Camela or – posthumously – the singer Robert IniestaMercé, in addition to accepting her award, performed a cante during the event.
The Ministry of Culture, through the jury convened for this purpose, valued José Mercé's "fundamental contribution to flamencoHis commitment to innovation while respecting tradition and his tireless work to internationalize such a genuinely Spanish art form.” During the ceremony, King Felipe VI highlighted the value of culture as a space for encounter and social cohesion. The monarch also remembered the victims of the Adamuz train accident, which occurred months earlier, the reason the ceremony had been postponed until now.
"The Ministry of Culture, through the jury convened for this purpose, valued José Mercé's fundamental contribution to flamenco, his commitment to innovation while respecting tradition and his tireless work to internationalize an art that is so genuinely Spanish.
The awarding of the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts to José Mercé represents a new milestone in a career marked by numerous accolades, including the title of Favorite Son of the Province of Cádiz in 2005, the Medal of Andalusia in 2010, the City of Jerez Prize in 2013, the Compás del Cante 2016, Favorite Son of Andalusia 2024 or the Grand Cross of the Order of the Second of May in 2025.
In the biographical sketch shared by the Ministry, it is noted that Mercé, a flamenco singer flamenco Gypsy born in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) into a flamenco dynasty in which his great-grandfather stands out Paco de la Luz and his uncle Manuel Soto 'Deafness', She began her career in 1967 and was part of the Antonio Gades Company, appearing alongside the flamenco dancer in the film Bodas de sangre de Carlos SauraThe flamenco singer became a best-selling artist with the album Of the dawn (1998), produced by Vicente Friend, which was followed by titles such as Air (2000) Mess (2002) o Noise (2009). He popularized his flamenco-infused versions of songs by socially conscious singer-songwriters such as At dawn de Luis Eduardo Aute o I remember you Amanda de Victor Jara“Mercé is an icon in the world of flamenco"recognized both nationally and internationally," the note concludes.
It is worth remembering that, in this century alone, such important Flemish figures as Juanito Valderrama, La Paquera de Jerez, Paco Cepero, Fernanda and Bernarda de Utrera, Carmen Linares, Enrique MorenteManuela Vargas, Matilde Coral, Fosforito, Kiko Veneno, Joaquín Cortés, Peret, Merche Esmeralda, Israel Galván or the International Festival of Cante de las Minas, Manolo Sanlúcar, Vicente Amigo, Tomatito, Rafael Amargo, Eva Yerbabuena, Pepe Habichuela, Manuela Carrasco, Serranito, María Vargas, El Pele, Sara Pereyra, Antonio Canales, Mayte Martín, Rocío Molina or Lole Montoya, among others.
