Album Notes

The gypsies in Spain are looked down upon as "suspicious foreigners", who travel in large families. They are perceived as entrepreneurs in thievery, con games, drug dealing and extorting money from tourists and elderly citizens. Like the African-American situation in this country, a disproportionate number of young adult gypsies are in prison or on probation. In fact, they are an enterprising people with strong family ties, extensive religious rituals and their own strict laws, dating back hundreds of years.

In a country internationally recognized for it's culture of flamenco song, music and dancing, the gypsies reign supreme.

The various state provincial governments (juntas) in Spain, along with all the state accredited national flamenco clubs (penas), decided to select the very best inmate singers of flamenco in Spanish jails by running a national contest open to all incarcerated prisoners.

One hundred and fifty inmates, from many different jails, responded by sending in demo cassettes of their singing voices. Many jails were represented, including Malaga, Valencia, Madrid, Alomorca, Barcelona, Sevilla, Ocana, Cuenca and Jaen. Thirty finalists were selected and escorted from their provincial jails by the armed Spanish Guardia Civil to the prison of Cordoba for the final selection of the best singer. The contestants were backed by the foremost flamenco guitarists, clappers and shouters (jaleo) in the flamenco world. The ultimate reward - 5,000 pesetas and the reduction of the sentence being served.


And the winners? Two of them!!

José Serrano, from Seville. Serving a 25 year sentence for homicide, he entered the prison at the age of 22. At the time of the contest, he had served 18 years. Although claiming his innocence, the homicide was gang related and it is the custom amongst the gypsies for the youngest to step forward and accept the guilt. Serrano was the youngest. His voice has been likened to the great Camaron, an orthodox historic flamenco, contemporary and versatile, traditional with great emotion. A classic "cantador".

Antonio "El Agujetas", son of the famous Flamenco singer "Agujetas de Jerez" and grandson of "Agujetas The Old", Antonio's family tradition is steeped in flamenco, going back to the Civil War of 1936-1939. Arrested at age 23 for drugs, he was sentenced to 15 years in the penitentiary. His emotional singing has been compared to a "hurt beast", soaring in passionate intensity and yet resigned to destiny. Now in jail for 12 years, his aggressive purist and primitive singing expresses the pathos of the gypsy - marginalized and excluded by society in protest against his historic plight.

The successes of the concert prompted La Consejeria de Culture de la Confederación and Andaluza de Pela Flamenco to bring the winners, chained and under armed guard, to the recording studio in March 1997 to make a recording under the guidance of master flamenco producer José Delgado.

Because of the enormous fame and respect given to Serrano and "El Agujetas" by the contest and the release of the recording in Spain, they have both been put on provisional parole under electronic supervision.

Both are now considered to be amongst the top tier of flamenco singers. The contest is now a national event, held every other year.

"The quality of their cante jondo (deep song), the Spanish equivalent of the Delta Blues, is remarkable." - Billboard

"The most beautiful and the best flamenco." - JosÈ Arrebola Rivera, Presidente de la ConfederaciÛn Andaluza de PeÒas Flamencas