El Lebrijano

Juan Peña Fernández, also known as Juan Peña "El Lebrijano" or simply El Lebrijano (born 1941) is a Spanish Gitano (Roma) musician, the nephew of Perrate de Utrera.

Juan Peña at Campus de Jerez

Biography

Born in Lebrija, province of Seville, he began to play flamenco guitar as a child, accompanying singers such as La Paquera de Jerez, but eventually turned to Flamenco singing. In 1964, he won the championship at the Competition of Mairena del Alcor, one of the most important Flamenco music festivals. Within years, he was regarded indeed as one of the greatest voices of flamenco. A few years later, in 1970, he started his collaboration with famous guitarist Paco de Lucía.

His most recent musical works include Andalusi influences, with albums such as Casablanca, Open Doors and Encuentros.^[1] And a tribute to his friend García Márquez^[2]

In 1997 the Spanish Ministry of Culture awarded him the Medalla de Oro al Trabajo (Gold medal working labour)^[3]

References

1. Biography at esflamenco.com (Spanish language)
2. El cantaor "El Lebrijano" homenajea a García Márquez at terra.es (Spanish)
3. Curriculum Vitae at deflamenco.com (Spanish)