José Mercé facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Mercé
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José Mercé
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | José Soto Soto |
| Born | 19 April 1955 Barrio de Santiago, Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain |
| Genres | Flamenco |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, composer, guitarist |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Associated acts | Mario Maya, El Güito, Carmen Mora, Antonio Gades, Enrique De Melchor, Tomatito, Vicente Amigo and Moraito |
José Mercé, whose real name is José Soto Soto, was born in 1955 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. He is a famous Spanish flamenco singer. He started performing at flamenco festivals when he was just 12 years old. In 1968, he moved to Madrid and recorded his very first music album.
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José Mercé's Family and Nickname
José Mercé comes from a family with a long history in flamenco music. His great-grandfather, Francisco Valencia, was a well-known flamenco singer from the 1800s, nicknamed Paco la Luz. José Mercé is also the nephew of Manuel Soto Sordera, who was a very important figure in Jerez flamenco.
José Mercé got his nickname because he used to sing in the choir at the Basilica de la Merced when he was a boy.
José Mercé's Career and Collaborations
When José Mercé was young, he became a very popular singer for flamenco dance shows. He worked with a group called Trío Madrid, which included famous dancers like Mario Maya, El Güito, and Carmen Mora.
From 1973 to 1983, he joined the dance company of Antonio Gades. With this company, he traveled all over the world. He also took part in a movie called Bodas de Sangre, directed by Carlos Saura.
José Mercé has also worked with many talented guitarists. Some of these include Enrique De Melchor, Tomatito, Vicente Amigo, and Moraito.
José Mercé's Music Albums
José Mercé has released many albums throughout his career. Here are some of them:
- Bandera de Andalucía (1968)
- Desnudando el Alma (1994)
- Del Amanecer… (1998)
- Caminos reales del cante (1999)
- Aire (2000)
- Cuerpo y Alma (2001)
- Recopilación. Verde junco y otros éxitos (2002)
- Lío (2002)
- Quebrando el Aire (2002)
- Verde junco & Hondas Raices (2004)
- Ruido (2010)
- Mi única llave (2012)
- Doy La Cara (2016)
- El Oripando (2022)
He also contributed to the album The Rough Guide to Flamenco in 1997.
Awards and Recognition
José Mercé has received several important awards for his contributions to flamenco music:
- In 1986, he won the National Flamenco Art Competition in Córdoba. This is a very prestigious award in the flamenco world.
- In 2010, he was given the Medalla de Andalucía. This medal recognizes his great achievements as a flamenco singer.
- In 2013, his album Mi única llave was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award in the "Best Flamenco Album" category.
See also
In Spanish: José Mercé para niños
