Manolo Caracol facts for kids
Manuel Ortega Juárez (born July 9, 1909 – died February 24, 1973) was a famous Spanish flamenco singer, known as a cantaor. He was also known by his stage name, El Caracol, which means "The Snail" in Spanish.
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Early Life and Flamenco Roots
Manuel Ortega Juárez was born in Seville, Spain. He came from a family with a long history of flamenco artists. His family included famous flamenco singers like Enrique Ortega and Curro Dulce. They were also known for their bullfighters.
When he was young, in 1922, Manuel won first prize at an important flamenco singing contest. This contest was held in Granada and organized by famous thinkers like Manuel de Falla and Federico García Lorca. In the early part of his career, he often sang at private parties. These parties and cafés were common places for flamenco artists to perform back then.
Rise to Fame
El Caracol became very famous around the world. People loved his amazing flamenco singing, called cante. He was also known for his lively personality. He was not afraid to make flamenco more popular for a wider audience. This helped him gain fame and success.
During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), it was hard to find private parties for singing. So, El Caracol started touring with theatre groups. These shows were musicals with simple love stories. They often featured Spanish popular songs called Coplas andaluzas.
In 1943, he met Lola Flores, another popular artist. They became a very famous artistic duo in Spain during the 1940s. Their fame spread to many Spanish American countries too. During this time, he sang many popular copla andaluza songs, which he called zambra. Songs like La salvaora and La niña de fuego became huge hits in Spain. He also appeared in several movies, including Un caballero famoso (1942) and Embrujo (1946).
Los Canasteros and Later Years
In 1963, Manuel Ortega Juárez opened his own flamenco club called Los Canasteros. He spent the rest of his life there. Many of the best flamenco artists of that time performed at his club. He also performed with some of his children at theatres and festivals. Los Canasteros opened with talented singers, dancers, and guitarists.
Manuel Ortega Juárez was known for his deep, powerful, and warm voice. He sang flamenco songs with great passion and his own unique style. He was excellent in many flamenco styles, such as Martinetes, Seguiriyas, Soleá, Malagueñas, Bulerías, and Fandangos. His way of singing Fandangos was so special that they became known as Fandangos Caracoleros.
Some very traditional flamenco fans sometimes criticized him. This was mainly because he sang copla andaluza, which some purists did not consider true flamenco. However, he is still seen as one of the singers who best showed Duende. This is a special flamenco term that means deep inspiration and emotion.
Manuel Ortega Juárez passed away in a road accident in Madrid, Spain, in 1973.
Recordings
Manuel Ortega Juárez made many recordings during his career. His most important work is Una historia del cante flamenco. It was first released in 1958 with guitarist Melchor de Marchena. This recording was later re-released in a collection called El genio: Manolo Caracol.
Selected Films
- A Famous Gentleman (1943)
- The Girl at the Inn (1951)
Images for kids
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Bronze statue of Manuel Ortega Juárez
See also
In Spanish: Manolo Caracol para niños
