13 April 2004
SEVILLE – Flamenco star Juan Valderrama, one of Spain’s best-known artistic figures, died of a heart attack at his home outside this southern city, it was reported Tuesday. He was 87.
Valderrama, married to singer Dolores Abril, had been in hospital since February suffering from heart trouble. He died at his home in the Andalusian town of Espartinas, near Seville.
“Juanito,” as he was popularly known, made his debut on stage at the age of 14.
He recorded dozens of albums and appeared in seven films and numerous shows, many of them with his wife, his artistic and romantic partner since 1954.
In February , the regional government of Andalusia organised a tribute to Valderrama in which the singer performed.
During what proved to be his last public appearance, “Juanito” was joined on stage by several of flamenco’s most prominent figures.
In 2001, Valderrama released his last album, “Don Juan,” recorded during a tribute to him at a music festival in Murcia.
One of “Juanito’s” most famous songs was “El emigrante” (The Emigrant), which he wrote in the Moroccan city of Tangiers during the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War, when many Spaniards left their country for economic or political reasons.
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news