Camarón y Paco de Lucía

El Camarón de la Isla (December 5, 1950, San Fernando, Cádiz, Spain July 2, 1992, Badalona, Spain) was the stage name of flamenco gypsy singer José Monje Cruz who is sometimes also credited as José Monge Cruz.

His uncle José nicknamed him Camarón (Spanish for "Shrimp") because he was blonde and fair skinned. At the age of eight he began to sing at inns and bus stops with Rancapino to earn money. At sixteen he won first prize at the Festival del Cante Jondo in Mairena de Alcor. El Camarón then went to Madrid with Miguel de los Reyes and in 1968 became a resident artist at the Tablao Torres Bermejas where he remained for twelve years.

There he met Paco de Lucía with whom he recorded nine albums between 1969 and 1977. The two toured extensively together during this period. As Paco de Lucía became more occupied with solo concert commitments, El Camarón worked with one of Paco's students, Tomatito.

In 1976 at the age of 25, Camarón married Dolores Montoya, a Gypsy girl from La Línea de la Concepción whom he nicknamed "La Chispa" (The Spark). At the time La Chispa was only 16. The couple went on to have four children.

Many consider El 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.

In 1992 José Monge Crúz died of lung cancer. It was estimated that more than 100,000 people attended his funeral.