Flamenco singer Alfonso Paredes ‘Niño Alfonso’, one of the leading supporters of the iconic International Festival of Cante de las Mina, died on June 7, 2021. He was one of the most beloved Flamenco artists from La Unión in southeastern Spain. He received the prestigious Honorary Lámpara Minera award in 2016.
Alfonso Paredes was born on April 28, 1934 in La Unión (Murcia, Spain). Son and grandson of a miner, he was one of the singers who recovered the canciones de las minas (miner songs) since the age of 6 after he came into contact with professional guitarist Vicente Vera. During his youth, Paredes obtained important awards in different competitions in the region of Murcia, standing out for his extensive Flamenco repertoire in malagueñas, granainas and fandangos that he performed with a very personal style.
He participated in prestigious competitions in the 1950s, joined the flamenco company “La Soleá” and became the first registered Flamenco professional in his region.
In 1966, ‘Niño Alfonso’ traveled to Madrid to record an album with four songs featuring Mariano Fernández on guitar. It included two milongas written by ‘Niño Alfonso’, a miner song, and a cartagenera from Rojo El Alpargatero.
Career highlights include his performances at the May 1 festival in Valle Perdido in Murcia, the Harvest Festival in Nimes (France), and performances in Linares and the province of Jaén together with his close friend Canalejas de Puerto Real.
‘Niño Alfonso’ sang about the tragedies of the mining well, having suffered the reality of mining work from his father. In 2001, when he was honored, the then director of the Cante de las Minas Festival, José Joaquín Hernández said: ““Niño Alfonso’ knows so much, you can clearly tell if you talk to him. About joys and sorrows, about tragedy and suffering … “
Alfonso Paredes’ name and legacy appears in the Plaza Joaquín Costa (Avenida del Flamenco) In La Unión, where he shares space with an honorary plaque that includes Flamenco stars such as Diego El Cigala, Miguel Poveda, Vicente Amigo, Encarnación Fernández, Enrique Morente, and Estrella Morente, among many others.
(headline image: Alfonso Paredes ‘Niño Alfonso’ receiving the Honorary Lámpara Minera award in 2016)
Author: World Music Central News Room
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