Flamenco singer, actor, composer, lyricist and dancer Enrique Castellón Vargas, better known as El Príncipe Gitano (The Gypsy Prince) passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at the age of 92, from coronavirus. El Príncipe Gitano was an iconic figure in Spanish popular music of the second half of the 20th century and one of the most beloved artists on stage.
Enrique Castellón Vargas was born in the traditional neighborhood of Ruzafa in Valencia in 1928. He mastered flamenco, copla, zambra and rumba, influencing several generations of flamenco and Spanish song artists until today. Although his career took him to cities around the world, he never hid his love for his homeland: “I love Valencia because it is very pretty and they love me there a lot; especially the Valencian handball players, who adore me.”
Born in a humble family and proud of his gypsy roots (along with his six siblings, including famed dancer Dolores Vargas “La Terremoto”), El Príncipe always manifested his frustrated vocation as a bullfighter.
His singing career was precocious: at the age of 14 he debuted at the Teatro Calderón in Madrid in the same show as Lola Flores. At 15, he put together his first show under the name ‘Pinceladas’ (Brushstrokes).
He spent most of his career in Madrid. From the beginning, through his recordings, he knew how to connect with broad sectors of the public in Spain and enjoyed notable commercial success. His most popular songs included Sortija de oro, Tengo miedo, La Tani, El Gurugú, ¡Ay mi Dolores!, Obí, Obá and Cariño de legionario.
With his own company, he discovered young talents who became very popular artists over time such as Rocío Jurado, Carmen Sevilla and the highly popular Manolo Escobar.
Enrique Castellón Vargas was always characterized by his generosity in giving opportunities to artists subsequently acclaimed by the public. In the 1980s, El Príncipe Gitano returned to the stage with his popular ponytail and surprised audiences with the song ‘Obí, obá, cada día te quiero más’ (Obí, obá, I love you more every day), which would later become known worldwide performed by the Gypsy Kings. In addition, he also stood out as an actor, starring in a dozen movies shot in Spain and Latin America, where he performed regularly.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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