Manuel Jesús Cerpa González, born on March 26, 2003, in Chipiona, Spain, began playing guitar at the age of 10 under the tutelage of Juan Gómez. He later developed his skills at the academy of Manuel Lozano “El Carbonero” in Jerez. Cerpa made his debut at the flamenco Peña “José Mercé” in his hometown, and by the age of 12, he was accompanying “El Mani” on Canal Sur. At 13, he gave his first guitar recital at the same flamenco venue.
By 16, Cerpa had already won the prestigious 1st Prize for Flamenco Guitar at the Javier Molina competition in Jerez, judged by respected guitarists Paco Cepero, Manuel Valencia, Santiago Lara, and José Quevedo “El Bolita.” That same year, he became a finalist in the first edition of the talent show “Tierra de Talento,” with a jury that included José Mercé, India Martínez, Pasión Vega, and Carlos Álvarez.
Following this success, José Mercé enlisted Cerpa as a guitarist for his Entre Verea tour, and Cerpa continues to serve as the principal guitarist for Mercé’s Oripnadó tour.
In 2021, Cerpa participated in the Movistar+ documentary film Lola Flores, collaborating with artists like Rosario Flores, Lolita Flores, Enrique Pantoja, and Tomasito. His debut album La Séptima Cuerda, recorded at DomiStudio, features original compositions and contributions from renowned figures such as José Mercé, Jesús Reina, and Chicharito de Jerez.
Currently, Cerpa is pursuing advanced studies in Flamenco Guitar at the Conservatorio Superior “Rafael Orozco” in Córdoba. He has performed at some of Spain’s most prominent venues, including Teatro Real, Palau de la Música, Starlite Marbella, and Flamenco On Fire in Pamplona.
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.