A bad start to the week. This Monday evening, dark, warm, and silent, has left a void in our hearts. A death has occurred. Pepe Montaraz at El Tomillar Hospital, in the town of Dos Hermanas. It has been a hard blow, a freezing shock, like every time a flamenco singer and friend says goodbye, one of those friendships that never fade from memory.
He turned 78 just the day before yesterday, and today he has taken to the skies above Lebrija without looking back. We will live each day honoring his memory and his teachings, because he was a true friend to his family and an example of a life well-lived.
Son of the peerless arrow-shooter Benita Ruiz, José Sánchez Ruiz, as he was baptized although known to all by the nickname Pepe Montaraz, was born in Lebrija on February 14, 1948, and from an early age embraced the hobby within the family.
Let us remember, in this regard, that Pepe was the brother of another great saeta singer, Titi Montaraz, winner in 1968 of the traditional Saeta Contest organized by the Antonian Youth of Catholic Action, although all his brothers stood out for saetas, as evidenced by the cassette The arrows of the Montaraz Brothers (1986), where Pepe, Antonio and Frasquito They perform them by seguiriyas and Titi and Benetín by pile drivers.
But beyond that cante This season's end leaves us with a flamenco singer of extensive repertoire and a career marked by awards in diverse competitions, in addition to his participation in festivals, including the Lebrijana Snail and Flamenco Night with Our Elders, of the Federation of Peñas of Seville (2003), boasting awards such as the XXV Giraldilla de Honor (2014) of the entity that bears its name, the Peña Flamenca Pepe Montaraz, from Lebrija.
This organization, one of the oldest of its kind today, was founded in 1977, just two years after the release of Pepe Montaraz's album, accompanied by... Pedro Bacán, on an EP on the Zafiro label.
On this same label, our singer recorded two LPs (1977 and 1978), increasing his recordings with From the Mountains to the Countryside (2015), together with his brother Antonio, and showing himself to be a singer with a long career, with mastery of disused styles and with a wisdom, therefore, that is proven in any debate.
"The name of Pepe Montaraz will, however, remain in the memory of the flamencoFrom Lebrija and beyond. Firstly through his own merits, but also for having the honor of having his name written in gold letters in the local supporters' club community."
I recall the many times we have debated the typology of the canteYes, especially back in the early eighties in La Unión, where we stayed until dawn reviewing the diversity of the canteminers. That's where we strengthened our friendship, always through respect and consideration.
But my memory takes me back to 1997, when life dealt her the hardest blow she could possibly receive. I'm referring to the loss of her son. Benito due to a traffic accident. It was difficult for him to overcome that tragedy. When I called him to offer my condolences, he expressed his gratitude for the emotional support, as the pain he felt was impossible to alleviate.
The name of Pepe Montaraz will, however, remain in the memory of the flamencoFrom Lebrija and beyond. Firstly, through his own merits, but also because he has the honor of having his name written in gold among the local fan clubs. And I'll explain.
The preliminaries of Peña Flamenca Pepe Montaraz noticed in October 1976, in the gatherings of the Rabbit Bar, Little Wild Fortress Bottlewhere the idea of making a peña flamenca on behalf of his brother Pepe, the most notorious of a family, the Montaraz, in which everyone excelled in the flamenco and especially with the arrow.
These panelists, among whom were Benito Velázquez Gómez, Alias Fare; José Halcón Guerrero, Alias Pepillo the Paternero; José García Romero, known for Barejones, and Jose Garcia RamosThey decided to create a peña flamenca that would pay homage to Pepe Montaraz as the family representative. They founded the entity on October 29, 1977 on Carrero Blanco Street, with José Halcón Guerrero, José García Romero, José García Ramos and Antonio Montaraz finding a place at the end of Corredera which they renovated with their own hands for the development of their activities, and it was officially inaugurated on December 10, 1977.
However, it was on January 12, 1980, when, at the initiative of its first president, the also friend in the skies of memory Ricardo Rodríguez CosanoThey acquired bonds and bank loans with which they bought the social premises they currently enjoy in the Friars' Alley.
Since then, the fans in Lebrija have been brimming with pride – and with good reason – that the peña, with its dense programming, transcends its own borders thanks to the Flamenco Giraldilla, an award that today is displayed in the most significant flamencoIt was part of contemporary history, and Pepe Montaraz was always present in the front row, not to watch the performances, but to enjoy them.
Pepe Montaraz was awarded the Giraldilla de Honor in 2014, and today, with the urgency that such sad news demands, we gaze at the dark skies of Lebrija to offer our condolences to his family and our understanding to the people of Lebrija. We will feel his absence, but the experiences and memories will never fade. ♦
