José Mercé

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

José Mercé, born José Soto Soto on 19 April 1955 in Barrio de Santiago, Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain, is a Spanish flamenco singer. He performed at flamenco festivals from the age of 12 and later moved to Madrid, where he recorded his first album in 1968. He comes from a flamenco family: he is the great-grandson of the Seguiriya maestro Paco la Luz (Francisco Valencia) and the nephew of Manuel Soto Sordera, an important figure in Jerez flamenco. His nickname “Mercé” came from his time singing in the Basilica de la Merced choir as a boy.

Career highlights: Mercé became one of the most sought-after singers for dance, working with Trío Madrid (Mario Maya, El Güito, and Carmen Mora). From 1973 to 1983 he joined Antonio Gades’s company, traveled around the world, and appeared in the film Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding) directed by Carlos Saura. He has also performed with guitarists such as Enrique De Melchor, Tomatito, Vicente Amigo, and Moraito. His discography includes albums from Bandera de Andalucía (1968) to El Oripando (2022), and he contributed to The Rough Guide to Flamenco (1997).

Awards: In 1986 he won Córdoba’s National Flamenco Art Contest. In 2010 he received the Medalla de Andalucía for his merits as a flamenco singer. In 2013 his album Mi única llave was nominated for a Grammy Latino in the Best Flamenco Album category.