It was there that he met Paco de Lucía with whom he would record nine albums between 1969 and 1977. The two would tour extensively together during this period. As Paco de Lucía became more occupied with solo concert commitments, Camarón would work with one of Paco's students, Tomatito, also one of the important figures in modern flamenco guitar.
At the age of 23 Camarón married Dolores Montoya, a gypsy girl from La Línea de La Concepción who he nicknamed "La Chispa" (The Spark). At the time La Chispa was only fourteen. Shortly afterwards the couple had two children, and were eventually to have a total of four.
Many consider Camarón to be the single most popular and influential flamenco "cantaor" (singer) of the modern period. Although his work brought criticism from 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.
All good things must come to an end though, and in 1992, José Monje Cruz died of lung cancer. It was estimated that more than 100,000 attended his funeral.
In 2005 director Jaime Chávarri brought out the biopic "Camarón" in Spain starring Óscar Jaeneda as Camarón himself and Verónica Sánchez as La Chispa.
The film, produced in consultation with Camarón's widow, was subsequently nominated for several Goya Awards.
Partial discography
with Paco de Lucía
"Al Verte las Flores Lloran" (1969)
"Cada Vez Que Nos Miramos" (1970)
"Son Tus Ojos Dos Estrellas" (1971)
"Canastera"* (1972)
"Caminito de Totana" (1973)
"Soy Caminante" (1974)
"Arte y Majestad" (1975)
"Rosa María" (1976)
"Castillo de Arena" (1977)
with Paco de Lucía & Tomatito
"Como el Agua" (1981)
"Calle Real" (1983)
"Viviré" (1984)
"Potro de Rabia y Miel" (1992)
with Tomatito
"Te lo Dice Camarón" (1986)
"Flamenco Vivo" (1987)
"Camarón Nuestro" (1994)
Other
"La Leyenda Del Tiempo" (1979)
Released as a solo album
"Soy Gitano" (1989)
Released with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with guest appearances by Tomatito
The titles given for the first five albums with Paco de Lucía are those in popular usage, often being the titles of the first tracks. Formally, all of them are excitingly titled "El Camarón de la Isla con la colaboración especial de Paco de Lucía" with the exception of Canastera.
Mi niña se fue a la mar
Camarón de la Isla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi niña se fue a la mar,
A contar olas y chinas,
Pero se encontró, de pronto,
Con el río de Sevilla.
Entre adelfas y campanas
Con los remos en el agua
Y las velas en la brisa.
¿Quién mira dentro la torre
Enjaezada, de Sevilla?
Cinco voces contestaban
Redondas como sortijas.
El cielo monta gallardo
Al río, de orilla a orilla.
En el aire sonrosado,
Cinco anillos se mecían.
The song "Mi Niña Se Fue a la Mar" opens with the departure of the singer's beloved girl to the seaside to count the waves and shells. However, unexpectedly she meets the river of Seville, where five boats are swaying with the oars in the water and the sails in the breeze. The scene is artistically portrayed through the descriptions of the riverbank filled with oleanders and bells, and the five voices coming from the tower encased in Seville. The five voices when responding to the question of the girl, sound round like rings, adding to the imagery and symbolism of the lyrics.
The grand sky and the river co-exist, from one shore to another, and five rings go to and fro in the pink air. The poem provides us with a vivid picture of nature's beauty, which dances with music and melody. As the young girl departs for the sea, she is transported to another world that is magical and fantastical. The song's lyrics, written by Federico Garcia Lorca, describe the transition of the girl from the known to the unknown world, emphasizing the transformative impact of exploration on one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Mi niña se fue a la mar,
My girl went to the sea,
A contar olas y chinas,
To count waves and seashells,
Pero se encontró, de pronto,
But she suddenly came upon,
Con el río de Sevilla.
The river of Seville.
Entre adelfas y campanas
Amid oleanders and bells,
Cinco barcos se mecían,
Five boats swayed,
Con los remos en el agua
With oars in the water,
Y las velas en la brisa.
And sails in the breeze.
¿Quién mira dentro la torre
Who looks inside the tower
Enjaezada, de Sevilla?
Harnessed, of Seville?
Cinco voces contestaban
Five voices answered,
Redondas como sortijas.
Round as rings.
El cielo monta gallardo
The sky rides gallantly,
Al río, de orilla a orilla.
Over the river from bank to bank.
En el aire sonrosado,
In the rosy air,
Cinco anillos se mecían.
Five rings swayed.
Writer(s): RICARDO PACHON CAPITAN, JOSE MARIA LOPEZ SANFELIU, FEDERICO (+1936) GARCIA LORCA
Contributed by Wyatt P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carlos de Amésquita
Mi niña se fue a la mar,
a contar olas y chinas,
pero se encontró, de pronto,
con el río de Sevilla.
Entre adelfas y campanas
cinco barcos se mecían,
con los remos en el agua
y las velas en la brisa.
¿Quién mira dentro la torre
enjaezada, de Sevilla?
Cinco voces contestaban
redondas como sortijas.
El cielo monta gallardo
al río, de orilla a orilla.
En el aire sonrosado,
cinco anillos se mecían.
Isabel Abollado
Que maravilla de taconeo, de voz, de disco que cambió el flamenco.
La leyenda del tiempo.
Carlos de Amésquita
Mi niña se fue a la mar,
a contar olas y chinas,
pero se encontró, de pronto,
con el río de Sevilla.
Entre adelfas y campanas
cinco barcos se mecían,
con los remos en el agua
y las velas en la brisa.
¿Quién mira dentro la torre
enjaezada, de Sevilla?
Cinco voces contestaban
redondas como sortijas.
El cielo monta gallardo
al río, de orilla a orilla.
En el aire sonrosado,
cinco anillos se mecían.
Carmelo Giménez
Ahora entiendo la leyenda: canta historia. Dios, primero canto todos los palos con paco,: verdiales, polo, tientos, fandango de alosno...
Luego estalló este súper discazo: lorca, anibal, el rey david, Pura historia. Después potro de rabia y miel que ya te mata con esto. Era un romancero excepcional, y toda la colaboración de lo mejor de España.
SEÑOR X
Ya queda poco y ojalá así sea para el Museo de Camarón. Los cañaillas estamos ansioso por verlo terminado
VIVA CAMARÓN
Marco Miani
I have this on vynil and play it only in special occasion, as loud as it gets. This music is pure gold.
ramon navas vargas
He is the greatest gypsy flamenco singer who has ever given this world there will be no other like him...since flamenco was proclaimed a world heritage site they want to de-gypsy flamenco
Jeff Ramsey
Le visita er duende y la voz de Camaron te hace parar lo pelos! Este tio fue del catego de los/las grandes cantaores, y sabemos quienes han sido. Xtorero
Fabi Gomez montoya
El mejor del mundo y aun sigue siendo no ai nadie como este hombre siempre camaron
Gonzalo Rovira
que obra maestra de cantiña...
Andrea del pilar Gilli Gore
Bella cancion