Francisca Méndez Garrido, beter known as La Paquera de Jerez, was born in Jerez de la Frontera in 1934, the daughter of a Gypsy father and a paya (non-Gypsy) mother. She started out in the small gatherings in her home town, then gained great popularity in the early 1950s with her first recording. In 1957, she debuted at Madrid’s famed Corral de la Moreria, toured Spain in 1959 with her show España por bulerias in 1960, and then headed Arte Español together with El Farruco, Juanito Maravilla and El Chocolate. That same year, she achieved great success at Madrid’s festival hall, York Club. After that, she toured all of Spain and Europe with different shows.
In 1965, La Paquera and Rafael Farina shared the lead in the shows Bronce y solera and Embrujo y Tronío. In the years following, she debuted in several tablaos, participated in festivals and gave recitals in flamenco peñas. La Paquera’s participation in the Seville Biennial in 1984 and in the Third Madrid Summit in 1986, together with members of her family, was outstanding.
In 1971, La Paquera received the Niña de los Peines Award at the National Flamenco Art Contest in Córdoba and the Chair of Flamencology presented her with the Jerez Cup.
She had a long list of recordings and her repertoire was equally extensive. Nevertheless, La Paquera emphasized bulerías, the style that revealed her great qualities as a cantaora and her great originality: she was called “the Queen of the bulería”. La Paquera was also a great interpreter of fandango, of cantes from Jerez and of the purest flamenco cantes. She had a very powerful voice and an exceptional sense of rhythm.
In August, 2002, La Paquera received the tribute of the XLII Festival internacional del Cante de las Minas. A ceremony acknowledging La Paquera’s artistic path was celebrated in her honor, and a book waspublished with previously unpublished graphic and literary contributions.
In December of 2003, La Paquera was given the golden medal of the Fine Arts. And in February of 2004, she received the Compas del Cante award given by the Cruzcampo Foundation. The Jerez-born singer was part of a group of candidates from the arts nominated for the prestigious 2004 Prince of Asturias Award for her contribution to Flamenco.
La Paquera died Monday, April 26, 2004, in the afternoon, at the Asisa Clinic in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz, Spain). The flamenco legend had been hospitalized in the intensive care unit for more than fifteen days. She had been suffering from high glucose, which later caused a thrombosis. La Paquera was 70 years old.
Part of the text translated by Rita Granda
Discography:
Ases Del Flamenco (Vergaram 1966)
La Paquera De Jerez (Vergara, 1967)
La Paquera De Jerez (Ekipo, 1968)
La Maestría Flamenca De La Paquera De Jerez (Marfer, 1969)
La Paquera De Jerez, Canalejas De Puerto Real, Porrina De Badajoz – Ases Del Flamenco (Vergara, 1969)
La Paquera De Jerez (Fontana, 1970)
Premio Nacional De Cante Niña De Los Peines (CBS, 1972)
Así Es Mi Cante (Philips, 1975)
La Paquera De Jerez (Trama, 1976)
Canta (Gramusic, 1976)
Tangos Flamencos, Bulerias, Rumbas … (Diamante, 1987)
Una Flamenca De Tronío (Philips, 1988)
Fandangos Caracoleros (Doblon, 1995)
Great Masters of Flamenco, Vol.22 (Chant du Monde)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.