Jose Merce

José Soto Soto, known by his stage name José Mercé (Jerez de la Frontera, April 19, 1955), is a Spanish flamenco singer of gypsy origin..

Biography

Beginnings

He was born in the flamenco neighborhood of Santiago, in Jerez de la Frontera. He is a member of a line of gypsy singers, great-grandson of Paco de la Luz, nephew of Manuel Soto Monje and cousin of Vicente Soto Sordera, the longest-running flamenco line. As a child he sang in the choir of the Basilica de la Merced de Jerez, from which Antonio Gallardo gives him his stage name. For six months, he worked at & # 39; El Tablao & # 39;, in Cádiz, on Santa María de la Cabeza street, with Rancapino, Pepa de Utrera, Juanito Villar and La Perla de Cádiz.

In 1968 he went to Madrid to stay with his uncle El Sordera. There he recorded his first album, accompanied on guitar by Manolo Sanlúcar and Paco de Lucía. He sang in the Torres Bermejas tablao with Mario Maya, Carmen Mora and Guito.

Later, and until 1983, he worked in the Antonio Gades company. At this stage he participated in the films Blood Wedding and Flamenco , by Carlos Saura. Led by the composer and producer Manuel Sánchez Pernía, José Mercé established himself as a reference artist on the flamenco scene, thanks to the album Verde Junco, in which artists of the caliber of Tomatito, Enrique de Melchor collaborated and Rafael Riqueni.

He received an important accolade with the XI National Flamenco Art Contest of Córdoba in 1985

He also lived for a time in Japan where he dedicated himself to flamenco, being there a partner of Chiquito de la Calzada during the time they both lived in Minato (Tokyo), as José Mercé himself has recounted on television.

Claim to fame

Concert at the Teatro Villamarta de Jerez.

After a few years away from the stage due to the death of one of his children, he returned to the scene with the album Del amanecer..., produced by Vicente Amigo. His performance at the Teatro Real —being the first gypsy to perform there— represents an important advance in his career, becoming the flamenco singer best known by the general public. Since then he has dared to innovate mixing flamenco with blues, Balkan martinete or singing with composers like Alejandro Sanz.

To date, he has sold a million records. Until 2011, he accompanied him on guitar by Manuel Moreno Junquera Moraíto Chico, who died that same year.

Work

He has covered songs such as Clandestino, by Manu Chao, Al alba, by Luis Eduardo Aute, Te recuerdo Amanda, by Víctor Jara, How Nice It Is to Live, by Louis Armstrong; some by Joaquín Sabina, and Luis Eduardo Aute —with whom he toured together with Mónica Molina—. She is also famous for her version por soleares of the Andalucía Anthem included in the solidarity album Andalucía por la Humanidad . She has participated in solidarity initiatives such as the song Courage gives me for the December 4 Foundation.

He has also recorded a version of the Real Madrid anthem, of which he declares himself a follower.

On September 24, 2009, José Mercé presented his album entitled Ruido, in the Jardines de La Atalaya in his hometown.

On July 22, 2016, he performed a recital at the Mesón Gitano along with Tomatito on guitar and Eva La Yerbabuena on baile.

In 2017 he recorded the main theme for the film Oro.

On August 26, 2022, he performed at the Baluarte (Pamplona) as part of Flamenco on fire, presenting the Oripandó, a flamenco and avant-garde show, with which the cantaor reviewed all the exciting moments of his life trajectory.

Discography

• Flag of Andalusia (1977)
• Green Junco (1985)
• Real Cante Ways (1987)
• Hondas roots (1991)
• Naked the soul (1994)
• From dawn (1998) ESP: Platinum
• Air (2000) ESP: 2x Platinum
• Lío (2002) ESP: Platinum
• Trust of Fua (2004) ESP: Gold
• What is not given (2006) ESP: Gold
• Ruin (2009)
• My only key (2012)
• I give my face (2016)
• Really. (2018)
• The Oripando (2022)[3]

Compilations and Reissues

• From sunrise + Villancicos (1999)
• Breaking the air (1977 - 1994)" (2002)
• Pa' know about your want (2002)
• Body and soul (2 CD) (2002)
• Great Successes (2007)
• 40 years of singing (2014)

Collaborations

He has collaborated with other artists, such as the fado singer Mariza. or Huelva composer Willy Álvarez Pareja Obregón. He has proposed to collaborate with Bruce Springsteen.

He has also been in the movie Ekipo Ja, using his voice and image as if he were God.

His collaboration with Haze also stands out on the song El lute, libre o muerto from the album Tercer round.

In 2017 he launched his project Mercé Sinfónico together with the Partiture Philharmonic Orchestra —directed by Juan Paulo Gómez— with the accompaniment of guitarist Antonio Higuero and the collaboration of three young Andalusian musicians who received scholarships from the Cruzcampo Foundation, among whom was the bassoonist Niño Ruven.

In 2019 he has participated as a jury in the talent-show of the television channel Canal Sur Tierra de Talento.

Filmography

TV Shows

As fixed

As a guest

Acknowledgments

• Predilect Son of the Province of Cadiz (2005)
• Flamenco Galardón Calle de Alcalá, Festival de Madrid.
• Andalusian Medal in 2010
• Ambassador of Andalusia
• Jerez City Award 2013
• Late Gold
• Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters
• Prize Masters of Mediterranean Music of the Mediterranean Music Institute (MMI) of Berklee College of Music
• Award 'El Público' to the trajectory.
• 'Compás del Cante' 2016 de la Fundación Cruzcampo
• "Butaca de Honor" in the auditorium theatre of El Ejido shipment 2018
• "Odeón Award" best flamenco artist 2020, together with Tomatito