Camarón, the flamenco legend

This web was designed in black and white, but when you listen to Camaron, your heart will shine with incredible colours.

The public anxiously waits, not hiding its' evident nervousness, while every so often, voices in unison are heard, forming an incredible cadence that resonates against the walls. It is then, that the first glimmers of light are visible, thus signaling the commencement of an enchanting and spellbinding event. All at once, the guitar's first notes, give way to the birth of something in the air... un cante por bulerías.

The slim cantaor... of medium stature, long hair and timid look approaches and adjusts the microphone, clears his hoarse throat and signals with those dark eyes to the young guitarist, whose piercing eyes are anxiously awaiting to start. He then turns to the public with certain shyness and sullen tone.

"Gentlemen" he starts... With just a bit of silence, I find it easier to concentrate and you can hear me much better. How about it ? And with another clearing of this throat, and he starts his famous palmas .

Although his words do no quiet the audience, he feigns peacefulness and calm. Almost aloof...

Perhaps because he knows that in just seconds, a major miracle will take place. At the precise moment he begins to sing, when out of his throat will rise the first notes.

All at once, in a wonderous and inexplicable way, all points of reference disappear. The stage scenery, the audiences' voices, the guitar and palmas. His voice emits a superhuman groan, rooted in his ancestral roots. It slowly elevates, while his assistants remain silent and dumbfounded by the enchantment that is being produced on stage.

Dreams take on a muscial form, and the music now has "duende" and all is magic and sorcery. This is not surprising and quite understandable, because they are listening to the spellbinding and bewitching voice and sentiments of the inimitable: Don Jose Monje Cruz... Camaron de la Isla

This page was created using pictures and graphics from the Internet public domain, except the sounds which have been recorded from CD albums of my ownership. If somebody has copyrights on those pictures or graphics, and the publication of this page constitutes a violation of those rights, please do not hesitate to contact me in order to remove them from this web. Sounds can be heard but they can not be downloaded. (Please refer to the Instructions page)

Special thanks to Raul Gallardo Ruiz, of Cadiz, Spain, the fatherland of Camaron, to whose generosity it is owed that I knew about these miraculous songs, and without whose help I would not have completed this web.