{"id":27126,"date":"2021-06-23T15:36:59","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T13:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expoflamenco.com\/archivo\/?p=27126"},"modified":"2021-12-12T22:53:31","modified_gmt":"2021-12-12T21:53:31","slug":"juanito-villar-the-best-ambassador-of-flamenco-from-cadiz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expoflamenco.com\/archivo\/en\/opinion\/juanito-villar-the-best-ambassador-of-flamenco-from-cadiz\/","title":{"rendered":"Juanito Villar, the best ambassador of Flamenco from C\u00e1diz"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Gonz\u00e1lez Byass wineries in Jerez presented the schedule of activities for \u2018Veranea en la Bodega\u2019, whose flagship is the VII T\u00edo Pepe Festival. Then, on to some tapas with Juan Villar, Jes\u00fas M\u00e9ndez and Antonio Reyes to chat about the temperature in August, flamenco and life\u2026<\/p>\n

On Wednesday 2nd<\/sup> June, the Gonz\u00e1lez Byass<\/a> wineries in Jerez presented the schedule of activities for Veranea en la Bodega <\/em><\/strong>(Summer in the Winery). The flagship of this event is the T\u00edo Pepe Festival,<\/strong> which celebrates its seventh edition in 2021. Throughout July and August, the facilities of this wine and marketing empire will be full of life thanks to the programme set out by the management, in a clear commitment to music and gastronomy.<\/p>\n

Highlights of the festival will include concerts by Perales, Isabel Pantoja, V\u00edctor Manuel and Ana Torroja. However, there will also be space for flamenco with the Solera y Comp\u00e1s<\/em><\/strong> series for which three shows are planned, featuring Juan Villar, Jes\u00fas M\u00e9ndez, Israel Fern\u00e1ndez<\/strong> and Diego del Morao<\/strong> (29th<\/sup> July), Capullo de Jerez, Antonio Reyes <\/strong>and Rancapino Chico<\/strong> (11th<\/sup> August) and Mar\u00eda Terremoto, Anabel Valencia<\/strong> and La Tana<\/strong> (12th<\/sup> August).<\/p>\n

Among the many politicians, producers, media representatives and sponsors who attended the presentation, in the eighth or ninth row of seats was Juanito Villar<\/strong> in his burgundy shirt, listening carefully to everything. It gave us great pleasure to meet up with him once the press conference was over, as it is impossible not to love this friendly and sincere Flamenco singer from C\u00e1diz.<\/p>\n

It was about lunchtime when the function, greetings and photographs came to an end, so we headed to a nearby bar for some tapas. A pleasant gathering with Juan, Jes\u00fas M\u00e9ndez and Antonio Reyes, among others, in which the master from Cadiz led the conversation. The two younger Flamenco singers listened to him talk about Caracol, the tablaos<\/em> of Madrid, Farruco, <\/strong>and Manuela Carrasco.<\/strong> He sang about Las Grecas<\/strong> and discussed the Popular Party MP from Madrid who recently said that flamenco was born in the capital… Juanito spoke openly about everything. He gave clear advice to both Jes\u00fas and Antonio, stressing that the important thing for an artist is their personality: “Always put your own stamp on it”.<\/p>\n

What kept surprising me was his love for C\u00e1diz, the land where he was born in 1947 for the greater glory of flamenco. “C\u00e1diz is the birthplace (of flamenco)”, he would exclaim over and over again. When he spoke of La Perla<\/strong> he seemed to drool. “We have all had a drink there, but La Perla was special”. Jes\u00fas M\u00e9ndez commented that he “loves” to reserve a table on the terrace of his pe\u00f1a<\/em>, over in La Caleta, and eat fried fish. Juan cried out again, \u201cThat is paradise! There’s no place that does it better!\u201d. His smile grew time and time again as he talked about his people and their customs.<\/p>\n

From this, Jes\u00fas and Antonio understood that artists like Pansequito<\/strong> or Juanito Villar himself should be on more posters, as they are the ones who are still around from the generation that changed an era. This year the “maestro”, as I called the singer from Chiclana in our discussion over lunch, will be representing that generation in the new event from the Baluarte de la Candelaria<\/strong>, the festival that was once Jueves Flamencos <\/em>organized by the Pe\u00f1a El Mellizo<\/strong> and is now C\u00e1diz Flamenco<\/a>, (and, understandably, under different promoters). Juanito will perform on the 12th <\/sup>August and will share the bill with Rancapino<\/strong> (the veteran) and Juana la del Pipa<\/strong>. “What a joy it is to have these Thursdays again”. Then back to C\u00e1diz, its temperature in August, his life\u2026<\/p>\n

To this I said to him: “And to think that they haven\u2019t named you Hijo Predilecto <\/strong>(*) of your city yet!\u201d He jokingly replied: “I’d rather be given money than lots of plaques”.<\/p>\n

Although he didn’t say as much, there is no doubt that for this living legend of flamenco singing, this would represent a great gesture – an award to honour an intense career that has lasted over half a century.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n