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 (born José Soto Soto in 1955 in Jerez de la Frontera) is a famous Spanish flamenco singer. When he was just 12 years old, he was already performing at flamenco festivals. Later, he moved to Madrid, the capital of Spain, where he recorded his very first music album in 1968.
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José Mercé's Family Roots
José Mercé comes from a family with a long history in flamenco music. He is the great-grandson of Francisco Valencia, a well-known flamenco artist from the 1800s. Francisco Valencia was nicknamed Paco la Luz and was famous for a type of flamenco song called seguiriya.
José Mercé is also the nephew of Manuel Soto Sordera. Manuel was considered a very important leader in the flamenco community of Jerez. José Mercé got his own stage name, Mercé, because he used to sing in the choir of the Basilica de la Merced church when he was a boy.
Musical Journey and Collaborations
When José Mercé was young, he became a very popular singer for flamenco dance shows. He worked with a group called the Trío Madrid, which included famous dancers like Mario Maya, El Güito, and Carmen Mora.
From 1973 to 1983, José Mercé joined the dance company of Antonio Gades. With this company, he traveled all over the world, performing flamenco. He even appeared in a movie called Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding), directed by Carlos Saura. José Mercé has also performed with many talented flamenco guitarists, such as Enrique De Melchor, Tomatito, Vicente Amigo, and Moraito.
Discover José Mercé's Music
José Mercé has released many albums throughout his career. Here are some of his most well-known works:
- 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 an album called The Rough Guide to Flamenco in 1997.
Awards and Recognitions
José Mercé has received several important awards for his contributions to flamenco music:
- In 1986, he won the National Competition of Flamenco Art in Córdoba. This is a very important award for flamenco artists in Spain.
- In 2010, he was given the Medalla de Andalucía. This medal is a special honor from the region of Andalusia, recognizing 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
