Biography:

José Cortés Jiménez , known artistically as Pansequito ( La Línea de la Concepción , January 8, 1945 – Bormujos , Seville , February 17, 2023) 1 ​2 ​3 ​4​ was a Spanish flamenco singer of gypsy ethnicity 5 .

Artistic career

José Cortés was born in La Línea de la Concepción , into a family with a flamenco tradition, he spent his childhood in Seville and later in El Puerto de Santa María , which would give him the artistic surname from his beginnings and from where he would be named adopted son in 2001. ⁶​ His professional career began in the tablaos of Málaga, but in 1963, Manolo Caracol hired him to work in his Madrid tablao of Los Canasteros .

He was part of Antonio Gades ‘ company , with which he sang in countries such as England, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Greece. He was then considered a flamenco innovator, obtaining in 1974 the ‘Creativity Award’ at the Córdoba National Competition. Regarding this award, the Jerez flamencologist Juan de La Plata has said: “For sounding different and bringing a refreshing air to flamenco, he was precisely awarded the Córdoba National Competition.” ⁷​ He is also the National Prize of the Jerez Chair of Flamencology.

He was married to the singer Aurora Vargas Vargas (Seville 1956) who also shares the stage with her on many occasions. He has an extensive discography with guitar greats such as Juan and Pepe Habichuela, Gerardo Núñez, Enrique de Melchor, Tomatito, Parrilla de Jerez.

In recent years he regularly participated in the Andalusian festival circuit and visited others abroad, such as Mont de Marsan, in 2007. In 2010, he won the XXIV Compás del Cante trophy in Granada. His latest recordings include ‘A mi Bahía’ (2001) and ‘Un canto a la libertad’ (2009), produced by Diego Magallanes in which Moraíto , Miguel Poveda and Raimundo Amador collaborate . In 2010, he won the Giraldillo al Cante at the Flamenco Biennial for “Un Canto a la Libertad”. ⁸ ​. In 2018, a tribute to his figure was organized, but it had to be suspended. 9

On February 17, 2023, he died at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Aljarafe ⁴ , due to a brain tumor . The town of Gines , where he had resided with his wife for more than 30 years, declared a day of official mourning for his death. ¹⁰ He was cremated at the SE-30 funeral home in Seville. According to statements from the family, his ashes will soon be transferred to the El Puerto de Santa María cemetery. 11

Credits: