Flamenco shines at the Grammy Awards
with the cante of Pepe de Lucía
Cantaor Pepe de Lucía
won the award for Best Flamenco Album for his record 'El corazón de mi
gente' at the 2003 Latin Grammies ceremony.
Ramiro Navarro, Madrid, September 4th, 2003
Photos: Daniel Muñoz
Cantaor José Sánchez Gómez,
better known as Pepe de Lucía (the brother of guitarists Paco de Lucía
and Ramón de Algeciras), received the Best Flamenco Album prize for 'El
corazón de mi gente' at the golden gramophone ceremony held at the American
Airlines Arena in Miami. On the other hand, this year luck did not smile on the
flamenco-pop of Ketama, who were left without a statuette in their nomination
for 'Best Pop Vocal Album' for their record 'Dame la Mano'.
Pepe de Lucía and Niño Josele
Prophetic. Pepe de Lucía had said so;
no matter who gets the award, "flamenco is going to win". And last night
his album El corazón de mi gente gained the international recognition necessary
to make the wish come true which the artist had expressed days before: "It's
a matter of pride that flamenco has its own category in the Latin Grammy Awards
because, I have to say it, it's the best music in the world".
Days earlier, at the presentation of the nominations
held by the SGAE in Madrid, Pepe de Lucía affirmed that "if they gave
it to me, I'd consider it a lifetime achievement award for my career, which started
when I was twelve along with my brother Paco". At the same time, he pointed
out that the important thing is that "flamenco has come this far, which is
a sign of respect for this art, loved more and more throughout the world for being
ethnic music, made from the roots and from feeling". And in Miami, Latin
music did its bit to strengthen his words and confirm his career.
The cantaor, who received the award in person,
competed in the category with 'Orillas', by Juan Carmona; 'Teatro Real de Madrid',
by Diego El Cigala with El Niño Josele; 'Un ramito de locura', by Carmen
Linares with the Gerardo Núñez Trio; 'Lío', by José
Mercé; 'Sueños de ida y vuelta', by Víctor Monge Serranito
with Camerata Romeu of Cuba, and 'Nueva escuela de guitarra flamenca', by Gerardo
Núñez and several artists.
The award-winning album, 'El corazón
de mi gente' ('The Heart of My People'), displays the cante of Pepe de Lucía
with musicians of the caliber of Vicente Amigo, Carles
Benavent, Tino Di Geraldo, Chicuelo and Javier Limón, and on which
the cantaor does duets with Manzanita, Malú, Parrita, Niño Josele,
Remedios
Amaya, Camela and Tomatito. A 'heart' which must be beating faster than ever
and which will surely have room for more people thanks to this international recognition.
Nominees Latin Grammy 2003
The prize was awarded along with those corresponding
to another thirty categories in an act prior to the televised gala, in which only
ten awards were given out. Flamenco was able to shine in the international Latin
spectrum thanks to Pepe de Lucía, who together with pop vocalists David
Bisbal and Enrique Iglesias were the only Spanish artists to win the golden gramophone
from among the over 40 existing categories in the awards from the Latin Academy
of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Pepe de Lucía thus joins the list,
together with other greats such as Chocolate
(in 2002) and Vicente
Amigo (in 2001) of artists who have been handed over the Grammy for Best Flamenco
Album, perhaps the greatest international recognition an artist in this genre
can achieve. Tomatito also joined this 'club of flamencos with a Grammy' three
years ago with two awards, for Best Jazz Album together with Michel Camilo, and
for Best Flamenco Album for 'París 87' with Camarón.
