Our friend and admired flamenco singer Luis Fernandez SotoDuring his non-professional years, he was highly valued within the Roma community of the Santiago neighborhood. However, the general public and fans were somewhat unaware of the true scope of his words. flamencos.
The reason is that Luis, as we all know, was a fishmonger. However, once he was off the counter, he dedicated all his time to his family and... flamencoHe might even take his van and go to festivals alone in search of... cante Well, like that time he went all the way to Las Cabezas de San Juan (Seville) to listen to a mano a mano between Juan Talega y Uncle Borrico in the Silver mintThat's what he's told me on several occasions.
True is that Diego Carrasco placeholder image, accompanied on guitar by Moraito, makes a direct reference to the eldest of the Zambos on the album Reference Voice (New Media, 1993). Right in the Bulerías del Naugo when using the letter: I like being the drunk in my neighborhood / and dancing bulerías when Luis el Zambo singsAs far as I know, it was a clear indication of the favor he enjoyed on the streets of Santiago.
The bright Fridays at the Arch of Santiago
This was because our protagonist would go down to be with his family during those early weekends. I was very young, but I remember the light of those days of wine and music very well. In the Arco de Santiago bar, which was run by Agustín MondeloOn any given Friday of the year, Moraíto and I could be seen together. Curro and Fernando de la Morena, José Vargas el Mono, Pepe de Joaquina, Lorenzo Gálvez Ripoll, his brothers Enrique y JoaquinAnd Diego Carrasco himself, if he wasn't in Seville, among many others. From there to Parra, ending up at night at the Los Juncales association on Nueva Street.
"Luis el Zambo told me that he doesn't even know how he recorded that and that he never recorded it again or sang it that way because he had just let himself be carried away by what came out naturally. That's all. It was then that the national press took notice. Maestros like Ángel Álvarez Caballero or Paco Herrera asked that question: where had Luis el Zambo been until then?"
As you can easily understand, it only took a spark to ignite the fire of the flamenco gathering, which continued until morning, when they would stealthily appear Luis de la Pica o The CakeBy the way. In that environment, Luis the Zambo He could easily spend three days singing bulerías. The neighborhood certainly knew of his authenticity, even Miguel PovedaAlthough not yet very well known, he went to listen one of those nights; this has been recorded in some of his bulerías: What a drunken spree / what a drunken spree / in Los Juncales on Nueva Street! I also know that Luis was one of Moraíto's favorite flamenco singers, which is why he frequently appeared in his shows.
A record 'At the Dawn of the Day'
Precisely Tere PeñaIn her work as a producer, she captured the spirit of those gatherings on a record. That's how the album was born. The Juncales of Jerez, royal keys for the collection Flamenco & Duende from Ediciones Senador in 1998. Among many other attractions, there was the first official appearance on the album of Luis de la Pica and also of Luis el Zambo, finally recruited for a record for the greater honor and glory of cante Jerez native.
Full of intuition and naturalness, our singer literally surprised everyone. That was a cante of the natural school, the kind you don't learn from a record but only through direct experience. The secret of it jondo Watered by its two extraordinary branches, the Rincones branch from the Fernández family and the Sordera branch from the Soto family. Luis participates with the bulería. Crazy girl, which opens the album, and with I'd been doing it.That sort of Jerez-style interplay between soleá and bulería is something to listen to. Both tracks were recorded by Moraíto and his son on guitar. Diego del Morao.
A popular acclaim
During a recent interview, Luis el Zambo told me that he doesn't even know how he recorded that and that he never recorded it or sang it that way again because he had just let himself be carried away by what came out naturally. That's all. It was then that the national press picked it up. Communication experts like Angel Alvarez Knight o Paco Herrera They publicly posed the question that titles this article today: Where had Luis el Zambo been until then?
It was the starting point, at a very late age, to begin dedicating himself completely to his passion, which is... flamencoAcclaimed by the natural courts of his cante...concise, short, and direct, like the amontillado sherry of their land. With that truthful rhythm born of life itself, according to the Andalusian Gypsies. With these lines, we wish to express our gratitude to the Society of Cante The Grande de Algeciras and the City Council have recognized this jewel that has emerged from antiquity into the 21st century. The fragrant essence of Luis el Zambo.
