The gypsies
in Spain are looked down upon as "suspicious foreigners",
who travel in large families. They are perceived as
entrepreneurs in thievery, con games, drug dealing and
extorting money from tourists and elderly citizens. Like the
African-American situation in this country, a
disproportionate number of young adult gypsies are in prison
or on probation. In fact, they are an enterprising people
with strong family ties, extensive religious rituals and
their own strict laws, dating back hundreds of
years.
In a country
internationally recognized for it's culture of flamenco
song, music and dancing, the gypsies reign
supreme.
The various
state provincial governments (juntas) in Spain, along with
all the state accredited national flamenco clubs (penas),
decided to select the very best inmate singers of flamenco
in Spanish jails by running a national contest open to all
incarcerated prisoners.
One hundred
and fifty inmates, from many different jails, responded by
sending in demo cassettes of their singing voices. Many
jails were represented, including Malaga, Valencia, Madrid,
Alomorca, Barcelona, Sevilla, Ocana, Cuenca and Jaen. Thirty
finalists were selected and escorted from their provincial
jails by the armed Spanish Guardia Civil to the prison of
Cordoba for the final selection of the best singer. The
contestants were backed by the foremost flamenco guitarists,
clappers and shouters (jaleo) in the flamenco world. The
ultimate reward - 5,000 pesetas and the reduction of the
sentence being served.
And the winners? Two of
them!!
José
Serrano
José
Serrano, from Seville. Serving a 25 year sentence for
homicide, he entered the prison at the age of 22. At the
time of the contest, he had served 18 years. Although
claiming his innocence, the homicide was gang related and it
is the custom amongst the gypsies for the youngest to step
forward and accept the guilt. Serrano was the youngest. His
voice has been likened to the great Camaron, an orthodox
historic flamenco, contemporary and versatile, traditional
with great emotion. A classic "cantador".
Antonio "El
Agujetas"
Antonio "El
Agujetas", son of the famous Flamenco singer "Agujetas de
Jerez" and grandson of "Agujetas The Old", Antonio's family
tradition is steeped in flamenco, going back to the Civil
War of 1936-1939. Arrested at age 23 for drugs, he was
sentenced to 15 years in the penitentiary. His emotional
singing has been compared to a "hurt beast", soaring in
passionate intensity and yet resigned to destiny. Now in
jail for 12 years, his aggressive purist and primitive
singing expresses the pathos of the gypsy - marginalized and
excluded by society in protest against his historic
plight.
The successes
of the concert prompted La Consejeria de Culture de la
Confederación and Andaluza de Pela Flamenco to bring
the winners, chained and under armed guard, to the recording
studio in March 1997 to make a recording under the guidance
of master flamenco producer José Delgado.
Because of
the enormous fame and respect given to Serrano and "El
Agujetas" by the contest and the release of the recording in
Spain, they have both been put on provisional parole under
electronic supervision.
Both are now
considered to be amongst the top tier of flamenco singers.
The contest is now a national event, held every other
year.
"The
quality of their cante jondo (deep song), the Spanish
equivalent of the Delta Blues, is remarkable." -
Billboard
"The
most beautiful and the best flamenco." - José
Arrebola Rivera, Presidente de la Confederación
Andaluza de Peas Flamencas
"This is down-in-the-dirt, real
roots flamenco, El Agujetas is from a well-known musical
family from Jerez (itself a hotbed of the music), and he is
by far the more powerful of the two, with a raw, primal
voice that cuts through to the core of the lyrics and
delivers them in impassioned shouts, growls, and moans.
Serrano is the more polished and professional singer, but no
less passionate. His is the voice of the classic cantadors
of old, easily likened to those of Terremoto de Jerez and
Cameron for its rough fluidity and ecstatic power. The 10
songs include one duet by both winners. Due to the success
of this recording in Spain, both men were issued early
paroles." --Louis Gibson, Amazon.com
