Biography
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Born
1934
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Born In
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain
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Died
2004 (aged 70)
La Paquera was born in 1934 at Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain and died in the same city in 2004. She had given flamenco singing a way to say, feel and express things. She is described as an authentic standard-bearer for the best Jerez singing by Juan Luis Manfredi, flamencologist.
La Paquera de Jerez is one of the greatest figures of cante (flamenco singing) and one of the most emblematic. She comes from a family of great amateurs, but without any professional predecessors. She started when she was very young in the cozy parties in her city. Throughout her artistic life she switched between singing in tablaos and flamenco peñas (enthusiasts' clubs) and shows that travelled around Spain, and sometimes Europe, all of which were very successful. She had already retired from stages and recording studios when, in the year 2002, she went on a small tour of Japan.
Among La Paquera's qualities, apart from a voice that has a very strong flamenco essence, is her strict meter. It is particularly evident when she sings Jerez cantes (styles) and, mainly, in bulerías, as well as fandangos, tientos and saetas. In all of these palos (forms) her strong personality shines through, as happens in Carlos Saura's film "Flamenco", which starts with a performance by La Paquera.
She has obtained some of the most important prizes: the Premio Niña de los Peines, in the Concurso Nacional de Arte Flamenco in Córdoba (1971) and the Copa de Jerez of the Faculty of Flamencology. The cantaora died on 26 April 2004, at the age of 70, after suffering a thrombosis.
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