Camarón De La Isla

Camar?n de la Isla (born December 5, 1950, San Fernando, C?diz, Spain; died July 2, 1992, Badalona, Spain), was the stage name of flamenco singer Jos? Monje Cruz (who is sometimes also credited as Jos? Monge Cruz). His uncle Jos? nicknamed him Camar?n (Spanish for "Shrimp") because he was blonde haired and fair skinned. At the age of eight he began to sing at inns and bus stops with Rancapino to earn money. At fourteen he appeared in the film "El Amor Brujo" with Antonio Gades. Two years later he won first prize in the Festival del Cante Jondo in Mairena de Alcor.

His uncle Jos? nicknamed him Camar?n (Spanish for "Shrimp") because he was blonde haired and fair skinned. At the age of eight he began to sing at inns and bus stops with Rancapino to earn money. At fourteen he appeared in the film "El Amor Brujo" with Antonio Gades. Two years later he won first prize in the Festival del Cante Jondo in Mairena de Alcor. Camar?n then went to Madrid with Miguel de los Reyes and in 1968 became a resident artist at the Torres Bermejas Tablao, where he remained for twelve years.

It was there that he met Paco de Lucía with whom he would record nine albums between 1969 and 1977. The two would tour extensively together during this period. As Paco de Luc?a became more occupied with solo concert commitments, Camar?n would work with one of Paco's students, Tomatito, also one of the important figures in modern flamenco guitar.

At the age of 23 Camar?n married Dolores Montoya, a gypsy girl from La L?nea de La Concepci?n who he nicknamed "La Chispa" (The Spark). At the time La Chispa was only fourteen. Shortly afterwards the couple had two children, and were eventually to have a total of four.

Many consider Camar?n to be the single most popular and influential flamenco "cantaor" (singer) of the modern period. Although his work brought criticism from 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.

All good things must come to an end though, and in 1992, Jos? Monje Cruz died of lung cancer. It was estimated that more than 100,000 attended his funeral.

In 2005 director Jaime Ch?varri brought out the biopic "Camar?n" in Spain starring ?scar Jaeneda as Camar?n himself and Ver?nica S?nchez as La Chispa.

The film, produced in consultation with Camar?n's widow, was subsequently nominated for several Goya Awards.


Partial discography
with Paco de Luc?a

"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)
with Paco de Luc?a & Tomatito

"Como el Agua" (1981)
"Calle Real" (1983)
"Viviré" (1984)
"Potro de Rabia y Miel" (1992)
with Tomatito

"Te Lo Dice Camarón" (1986)
"Flamenco Vivo" (1987)
"Camarón Nuestro" (1994)
Other

"La Leyenda del Tiempo" (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 Luc?a are those in popular usage, often being the titles of the first tracks. Formally, all of them are excitingly titled "El Camar?n de la Isla con la colaboraci?n especial de Paco de Luc?a" with the exception of Canastera.