Lola Flores facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lola Flores
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Flores, c. 1941
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| Born |
María Dolores Flores Ruiz
21 January 1923 Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain
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| Died | 16 May 1995 (aged 72) Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain
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| Resting place | Cementerio de la Almudena, Madrid, Spain |
| Other names | Lola de España La Faraona Torbellino de colores |
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| Years active | 1939–1995 |
| Spouse(s) |
Antonio González
(m. 1957) |
| Partner(s) | Manolo Caracol (1943–1951) |
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| Musical career | |
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María Dolores "Lola" Flores Ruiz (born January 21, 1923 – died May 16, 1995) was a famous Spanish actress, dancer, and singer. She was born in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Lola Flores loved performing from a young age.
She was known for her amazing energy on stage. At just 16, she started as a dancer in a show called Luces de España in her hometown. A film director named Fernando Mignoni discovered her. Lola then moved to Madrid to become a professional singer and actress. Her first big role was in Mignoni's film Martingala (1940).
Lola Flores became very successful in films and on stage. In 1943, she got a huge role in the musical show Zambra. She performed with Manolo Caracol and sang popular songs like "La Zarzamora" and "La Niña de Fuego". She mostly sang flamenco music, copla, rumba, and ranchera. Soon, everyone was talking about her.
In 1951, Lola Flores signed a huge contract with Suevia Films. It was worth 6 million pesetas, which was the biggest contract for a performer in Spanish history at that time. With this contract, she starred in many important films. These included La Niña de la Venta (1951) and ¡Ay, Pena, Penita, Pena! (1953). These films gave her famous songs like "A Tu Vera" and "¡Ay, Pena, Penita, Pena!". People started calling her La Faraona (The Pharaoh).
During her career, Lola Flores acted in over 35 films. Many of these films showed off traditional Andalusian culture. As a dancer, she impressed people across different countries. She also recorded more than twenty albums and toured around Europe, Latin America, and the United States.
Lola Flores had a strong personality and a unique look. Her long career made her a Spanish pop culture icon. She is often called the "biggest exporter of Andalusian culture." She was also a "pioneer" because she opened doors for others. Many TV shows and documentaries have honored her, like the film Lola, la Película (2007). Lola became the head of the famous Flores family, which includes many popular singers and TV stars like Lolita Flores, Rosario, Alba Flores, and Elena Furiase. Lola Flores passed away in 1995 at age 72 in Alcobendas.
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Life and Career Highlights
Early Life and First Steps (1923–1950)
Lola Flores was born to Pedro Flores Pinto and Rosario Ruiz Rodríguez. Her father owned a bar, and her mother was a dressmaker. Lola learned to dance from María Pantoja. She also learned about flamenco music from Sebastián Nuñez.
She made her first public appearance at 16. This was with Custodia Romero's dance company at the Villamarta Theatre in Jerez de la Frontera. Soon after, she moved to Madrid and became very famous. She signed a huge contract, which helped her career take off. She then toured all over Latin America.
In 1943, Lola Flores started a show called Zambra with Manolo Caracol. This show was a big success for many years. It featured songs like "La niña de fuego" and "La Zarzamora," which became very famous. Lola and Manolo worked together closely. They even produced two movies: "Embrujo" (1947) and "La niña de venta" (1951). Later, their professional partnership ended.
Big Success and Family Life (1951–1960)
In 1951, a Spanish film producer named Cesáreo González wanted to make Spanish cinema more popular. He decided to sign Lola Flores. She agreed to a two-year contract for five films. This deal was worth six million pesetas. It also included TV, theater, and a tour across America.
The contract signing was a big event. It was even filmed by NO-DO, which was a newsreel at the time. With this deal, Lola Flores starred in new films like "La niña de la venta" (1951) and "¡Ay pena, penita, pena!" (1953).
On April 12, 1952, Lola Flores traveled to Mexico with her family. She was very well-received there. From Mexico, she toured other countries like Cuba, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, and the United States. There's a famous saying about her, supposedly from The New York Times: "Lola Flores, a Spanish artist, she neither sings, and does not even dance, but you can't miss her." However, investigations have shown that this quote was never actually written in the newspaper. It's a popular myth about her amazing presence.
On October 27, 1958, Lola married Antonio González "el Pescaílla." He was a gypsy guitarist from Barcelona. They had three children: Lolita Flores (born 1958), Antonio Flores (1961–1995), and Rosario Flores (born 1963). They became one of Spain's most famous artistic families. Lola Flores is also the grandmother of actresses Alba Flores and Elena Furiase.
Later Years and Public Attention (1960–1995)
In March 1987, Lola Flores and her husband faced legal issues. They were accused of not paying income tax between 1982 and 1985. They had to pay a large amount of money as bail. In 1991, the Supreme Court found Lola Flores guilty of tax fraud. She was given prison sentences, but she never had to serve them. This case was very public because she was so famous. The tax authorities used her case to show they were serious about fighting tax fraud.
Music Albums
Lola Flores released many albums during her career. Here are some of her studio albums:
- Canta Lola Flores (1955)
- ¡Olé! (1957)
- The Toast of Spain (1959)
- La fabulosa Lola Flores (1959)
- Lola Flores y Antonio González (1964) (with Antonio Gonzáez)
- Lola Flores y Antonio González (1966) (with Antonio González)
- La guapa de Cádiz (1966) (with Antonio González)
- Lola Flores (1969)
- Lola Flores (1971)
- Lola Flores (1972)
- Lola Flores (1973)
- Lola Flores (1974)
- La fabulosa Lola Flores (1975)
- Diferente Lola (1980)
- Lola Flores y Antonio González (1980) (with Antonio Gonzáez)
- Homenaje (1990)
Films and Acting Career
Lola Flores acted in 38 films. Her first film was Martingala in 1939. A well-known film from the 1940s is Embrujo (1947). It was a musical drama where she performed with Manolo Caracol.
In 1951, she signed her big contract with Cesáreo González. This led to films like La niña de la venta (1951) and ¡Ay pena, penita, pena! (1953). Another important film from the 1950s was Morena Clara (1954). She also starred in El duende de Jerez (1953) and María de la O (1958). In the latter, she acted with her husband, Antonio "El Pescaílla" González, for the first time.
Other notable films include El balcón de la luna (1962) and Sister San Sulpicio (1962). She also made Mexican dramas like La Faraona (1956).
Later in her career, she appeared in comedies like Casa Flora (1972). She played Isabella I of Castile, an important Queen, in the comedy Juana la loca... de vez en cuando (1983). Her last film role was in Sevillanas (1992), directed by Carlos Saura. In this film, she shared the screen with other flamenco legends like Camarón de la Isla. Lola Flores was also good friends with fellow artists Carmen Sevilla and Paquita Rico. They even acted together in El balcón de la luna (1962).
Golden Age of Mexican Cinema
Lola Flores also acted in films in Mexico. This was during the "Golden Age" of Mexican cinema. She worked with famous Mexican stars like Jorge Negrete and Cantinflas. She also became friends with Mexican divas like María Félix.
Selected Films
| Year | Title | Role |
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| 1951 | The Girl at the Inn | Reyes |
| 1952 | Estrella of the Sierra Morena | Estrella |
| 1953 | Pain | Carmen |
| 1954 | Morena Clara | Trinidad |
| 1956 | La Faraona | Soledad Prim Altamirano y Montoya |
| 1962 | The Balcony of the Moon | Cora |
| 1983 | Juana la loca... de vez en cuando | Isabella I of Castile |
TV Appearances
Lola Flores appeared in many TV shows throughout her life. Sometimes she sang, sometimes she danced, and sometimes she was interviewed.
When private TV channels started in Spain in the 1990s, Lola began to host her own shows. These included:
- El tablao de Lola (Telecinco) (1992)
- Sabor a Lolas (Antenta 3 TV) (1992–1993) with her daughter, Lolita Flores
- Ay Lola, Lolita, Lola (TVE) (1995) with her daughter, Lolita Flores
Her last show on TVE had to stop early because she became very ill. This was the last time she sang in public. She had to sit down during her performance because she was not well. Her shows were known for their lively performances, where she would sing and dance until her final days.
Lola Flores also appeared in several TV series:
- Juncal (TVE) (1988) as Merche.
- Farmacia de guardia (Antena 3 TV) (1993) as Lola Flores, acting with her daughter Lolita Flores.
- Los ladrones van a la oficina (Antena 3 TV) (1994) as the gypsy woman Lola, with her children Lolita and Antonio.
- El coraje de vivir (Antena 3 TV) (1994) as Lola Flores, where she told her own life story.
Tributes and Legacy
Lola Flores received many tributes during her life. A very special one was in Miami in 1990. Many great artists, including Rocío Jurado and Celia Cruz, took part. Lola herself performed in all the acts. She even recorded the song "Dejándonos la piel" with Rocío Jurado.
Her last tribute was on the Antena 3 channel in 1994. Lola was invited but did not perform. She simply enjoyed watching her friends and family. During this event, she said her famous phrase: "Ya puedo morir tranquila" (I can now die calm).
The music group Azúcar Moreno honored her with a popular song called "Bailando con Lola."
In her hometown of Jerez de la Frontera, Lola Flores received the silver medal in 1965. This was to thank her for making her city famous around the world. A museum is being built in her memory in the Palace of Villapanés. It will display her personal items, like dresses, and tell her story. The Lola Flores museum is expected to open in 2022.
In 2016, a book about her life, Lola Flores: Otra Historia del Espectáculo en la España Contemporánea, won an award. On January 21, 2016, Google Doodle celebrated her 93rd birthday.
In 2019, a musical about Lola Flores's life was performed in Seville. Her daughters, Rosario and Lolita, are also working on a musical about their mother.
In 2021, Movistar+ released a documentary series called Lola. It looks back at her life and what she left behind. It includes interviews with 44 artists, like Rosalía and C. Tangana.
Death
Lola Flores passed away on May 16, 1995, at her home in Alcobendas, Madrid. She was 72 years old. She had been battling breast cancer since 1972. Her funeral was held in Madrid, and her coffin was open for her fans and friends to say goodbye. She was buried in the Cementerio de la Almudena in Madrid. Her funeral was one of the most attended and was broadcast live on television.
Just fifteen days after her death, on May 31, 1995, her son Antonio Flores was found dead at their family home. He was 33 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Lola Flores para niños
- Women in dance
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