Thousands say last goodbye to singer 02/06/2006 00:00

2 June 2006

MADRID – Thousands of Spaniards turned out on Thursday and Friday to pay their respects to the late Rocio Jurado, a popular singer and actress known as "Spain's greatest".

Jurado, "la mas grande de Espana", lay in wake at the Centro Cultural de la Villa in Madrid after dying in the early hours of Thursday. Her coffin was later transferred to her home town Chipiona in Cadiz for her funeral.

In both Madrid and Chipiona, thousands filed past Jurado's coffin or gathered in the streets outside, among them personalities from Spain's entertainment world, such as Julio Iglesias, Antonio Burgos and Pepe de Lucia.

The authorities said more than 10,000 fans had said a last goodbye as Jurado lay in wake at the chapel inside the sanatorium Virgen de Regla.

The Bishop of Jerez, Juan del Rio, conducted Jurado's funeral at noon on Friday, stating "the voice of Spain and Andalusia" had burnt out.

Jurado, who died from pancreatic cancer aged 61, was a beloved figure in her own country as well as in Latin America, with a career spanning four decades. She recorded more than 30 records and sang for the likes of President Ronald Reagan at the White House.

She was known for a powerful voice that blended traditional Spanish styles of flamenco, folk and romantic ballads, called coplas.

{Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news