Great Masters of Flamenco, Vol. 15
Camaron de la Isla (1950-1992) was a Gitano named Jose Monje Cruz from Cadiz, nicknamed Camarón (prawn) for his reddish hair. He began singing as a child in local ventas and then turned professional at 16, joining the companies of Miguel de los Reyes and Dolores Vargas. His first recording, with accompaniment by Paco de Lucia, was a huge success, which led to a rapid succession of recordings and concerts. The highest ever paid Flamenco artist, Camarón enchanted young audiences with ''new wave'' Flamenco and became a star in America. He was imitated by young cantaores in Andalusia, down to his clothes and hairstyle. He was always capable of performing the pure cante, however, with total mastery, and was awarded prestigious prizes such as the National Prize of the Catedra de Flamencologia de Jerez and the First Prize in the Mairena del Alcor competition. A flamboyant personality, he lived in excess and died young, leaving behind a legacy captured on this release.