JOSÉ MONGE CRUZ AKA CAMARÓN DE LA ISLA

José Monge Cruz aka Camarón de la Isla

José Monge Cruz (5 December 1950–2 July 1992), better known by his stage name Camarón de la Isla, in Spanish Shrimp of the Island, was a Spanish flamenco singer. 

Considered one of the all-time greatest flamenco singers, he was noted for his collaborations with Paco de Lucía and Tomatito, and the three of them were of major importance to the revival of flamenco in the second half of the 20th century.

He was born in San Fernando, Cádiz, into a gypsy family, the second of eight children. His mother was Juana Cruz Castro, a basket weaver, La Canastera, whose gift of singing was a strong early influence. His father, Juan Luis Monje, was also a singer as well as a blacksmith, and had a forge where Camarón worked as a boy. His uncle José nicknamed him Camarón, Spanish for Shrimp, because he was blonde and fair skinned. When his father died of asthma, while still very young, the family went through financial hardship. 

More information: Don Quijote

At the age of eight he began to sing at inns and bus stops with Rancapino to earn money. At sixteen, he won first prize at the Festival del Cante Jondo in Mairena de Alcor. Camarón then went to Madrid with Miguel de los Reyes and in 1968 became a resident artist at the Tablao Torres Bermejas where he remained for twelve years.

Camarón de la Isla and Paco de Lucía

During his time at Tablao Torres Bermejas, he met Paco de Lucía, with whom he recorded nine albums between 1969 and 1977. The two toured extensively together during this period. As Paco de Lucía became more occupied with solo concert commitments, Camarón worked with the flamenco guitarist Tomatito.

In 1976, at the age of 25, Camarón married Dolores Montoya, a Romani girl from La Línea de la Concepción whom he nicknamed La Chispa, The Spark. At the time La Chispa was only 16. The couple had four children.

Many consider Camarón to be the single most popular and influential flamenco cantaor, singer, of the modern period. Although his work was criticized by some traditionalists, he was one of the first to feature an electric bass in his songs. This was a turning point in the history of Flamenco music that helped distinguish Nuevo Flamenco.

More information: Bryan Hemming

In later years, his health deteriorated due to heavy smoking and drug abuse. In 1992, José Monge Cruz died of lung cancer in Badalona, Barcelona. It was estimated that more than 100,000 people attended his funeral.

Gitanos y Payos habemus buenos y malos.

There are good and bad gypsies and good and bad white people.

Camarón de la Isla