Jimmy Barnatán facts for kids

Jaime Barnatán Pereda (born July 2, 1981), known as Jimmy Barnatán, is a talented Spanish singer, actor, and writer. He grew up in Madrid, Spain, but spent some of his childhood in New York. There, he loved going to church with his grandmother and was amazed by the Gospel choirs. He also spent time with Black musicians and fell in love with the blues music they played. Jimmy's style is very American, and his strong, unique voice is one of the most special in Spain.

Jimmy is a very creative artist who started acting in theater and movies at a young age. His parents are the writer Marcos Ricardo Barnatán and the journalist Rosa Pereda.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Jimmy Barnatán was born in Madrid, but he has a special connection to both Madrid and New York. From a young age, he loved performing and wanted to be on stage. His dream came true in 1992 when he was just 11 years old. He joined the cast of Les Misérables, a famous musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo. The show was a huge success in Madrid.

After this, Jimmy appeared on television in comedy shows like The Worst Week Program (1994) and Innocent, Innocent (1995). In 1995, he got his first big movie role thanks to director Alex de la Iglesia. He played a "possessed child" in the well-known film The Day of the Beast.

Acting Journey

In 1996, Jimmy started acting in TV series with Milk Brothers. He worked alongside famous actors like Jose Coronado. A year later, he returned to the theater in Between two shores (1997) in Seville.

Since then, Jimmy has been part of many projects in movies and TV. Some of his notable films include Torrente, the dumb arm of the law, Heart of the Warrior, and The Biggest Robbery Never Told. He became very popular for his role as "Chucky" in the TV series Los Serrano.

Jimmy has also acted in several short films. He even directed three short films between 1998 and 2005. In 2007, he co-directed a documentary called Racing Blues. History of a Feeling with Fernando Guisado. This film told the story of the historic Racing de Santander football team.

Music Career

Jimmy's music journey also began in New York. He often visited there for family reasons. One day, he got the chance to sing on stage with Black Blues singers, and they loved his performance. Jimmy once shared in an interview:

When I was a child, I used to go, first with my grandmother and, later, alone, to a Harlem church to hear gospel. I started to be interested in black music and, one day, at 16 or so, I slipped with a friend at Arthur's Tavern, a famous place, to see a concert. When it finished, a jam session started and I began to sing... the musicians liked how I sang and invited me to return whenever I wanted. From there, everything started.

In Spain, he started as a singer with Caronte's Ferry. Later, he became the lead singer of the San Telmo Blues Band. With both groups, he performed many classic American songs. In 2010, he released his first album, Black Note. This album showed his love for the old vinyl records of Jazz, Blues, and Soul legends like Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong that he listened to growing up. The album was a pleasant surprise to those who only knew him from acting.

Soon after, he recorded his second album, After the blue Times (2011), with the Back Door Band. While making these albums, Jimmy also wrote two novels: Atlas (2005) and New York Blues (2012). He then formed the group Jimmy Barnatán & The Cocooners. With them, he released Room 13: A Blues Tale (2013) and Motorclub (2015).

Jimmy has continued acting, including in the documentary The Hurd, land with a soul (2015), for which he also created the music. He toured Spain with the Texan guitarist Carvin Jones. He also helped create part of the music for Alex de la Iglesia's film My Big Night (2015). His third novel, The Topper of Memphis, was published after 2015.

Film Appearances

Full-length Films

• Torrente 5, by Santiago Segura (2014), as Acrobat Kenny.
• The heredity Valdemar, by José Luis Alemán (2010), as Garbea.
• Eskalofrío, by Isidro Ortiz (2008), as Leo.
• ...killer, morirás por ella, by Miguel Martí (2008), as garden guy.
• Ángeles S.A., by Eduard Bosch (2007), as Thunder.
• Skedaddle, by Álvaro Fernández Armero (2007), as Paco.
• Don't say anything, by Felipe Jiménez Luna (2007), as Rodrigo.
• Poor youth, by Miguel Jiménez (2006), as Víctor.
• Torrente 3: the protector, by Santiago Segura (2005), as José María.
• The Biggest Robbery Never Told, by Daniel Monzón (2002), as Jacobo Yuste "Windows".
• Visionaries, by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón (2000), as Patxi.
• Masterpiece, by David Trueba (2000), as musical dairy.
• Dying of laughter, by Álex de la Iglesia (1999), as pastry child ad.
• Heart of the Warrior, by Daniel Monzón (1999), as Javi.
• Torrente, the dumb arm of the law, by Santiago Segura (1998), as Toneti.
• The Day of the Beast, by Álex de la Iglesia (1995), as possessed child.

Short Films

As an Actor

• Los que sueñan despiertos, by Félix Viscarret (2005).
• Chico meets chica, by Samuel Abrahams (2005).
• Lo que el ojo no ve, by José Braña (2004).
• Canciones de invierno, by Félix Viscarret (2004).
• Unas pellas, by César Strawberry (2001).
• Caballo, by Jimmy Barnatán (2001).

As a Director

• Macarra (2005).
• Caballo (2001).
• Gris (1998).

Medium Length Films

As a Director

• Racing Blues. Historia de un sentimiento (2007), co-directed by Fernando Guisado (Documentary).

Television Roles

• Servir y proteger, tve1, (2018), as Fede.
• Museo Coconut, Neox (2011), as thug wheelchair.
• Los Serrano, Telecinco (2003–2008), as Chucky.
• After school, Telecinco (2001), as Elio.
• Commissioner, Telecinco (2000).
• Petra delicado, Telecinco (1999), as Tito.
• Milk Brothers, Antena 3 (1996).
• Innocent, innocent, Telemadrid (1995).
• The Worst Week Program, TVE (1994).

Theater Performances

• Los Miserables, based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Teatro Nuevo Apolo, Madrid (1992).
• Between two shores. Teatro de la Maestranza, Sevilla (1997).
• ... by Hanoch Levin (2011).

Music Projects

• First band: Caronte's Ferry (blues/rock).
• Lead singer of the San Telmo Blues Band (blues/rock).

Albums with San Telmo Music Factory

• Black Note (2010).

Albums with Back Door Band

• After the blue times (2011).

Albums with Jimmy Barnatán and The Cocooners

• Room 13: A Blues Tale (2013).
• Motorclub (2015).

Written Works

• Atlas (novel). Published by Editorial Trama (2005).
• New York Blues (novel). Published by Editorial La Esfera de los Libros (2012).
• He has also written for the newspaper World on its website, including the electoral notebook Making friends and the blog At full night.

Awards and Recognition

• XI National Short Film Contest 2004.

See also

In Spanish: Jimmy Barnatán para niños