Curro de Utrera
Who is Curro de Utrera?
Francisco Díaz García, known artistically as Curro de Utrera, was born on 27 March 1927 in Utrera (Seville). Although born in Seville, he spent so much time in Córdoba and came to master its palos so well that he was considered almost an adopted son of the caliphal city, especially for his command of the alegrías cordobesas.
His talent showed while he was still a child. Pepe Marchena heard him sing and, recognizing his potential, brought him into his company at just thirteen years old, marking the start of a career that would go on to span decades.
Career
By the age of seventeen he was already performing on the stages of the Teatro Fuencarral in Madrid, and over time he shared bills with figures of the caliber of Juanito Valderrama, Lola Flores, Concha Piquer, Antonio Molina, El Sevillano, Gordito Triana and la Niña de la Puebla herself. He also performed at the Circo Price in Madrid within major companies, and toured through what was then the Spanish protectorate in Morocco.
In his recordings he worked with leading guitarists: in 1958 he recorded albums for the Alhambra (Columbia) label alongside Niño Ricardo, and the following year he recorded three albums for Hispavox accompanied by Rafael el Cordobés. Later in his career he remained connected to the world of cante, giving occasional benefit recitals and lectures at town halls and flamenco peñas.
Palos and discography
His repertoire spanned fandangos, alegrías de Córdoba, soleá, martinete, caña and polo, which earned him a reputation as both a star of the fandango and of the so-called ópera flamenca. That extremely broad vocal range, able to move comfortably between such different cantes, was precisely what sustained a career of more than seventy years on stage.
Legacy
He died in his native Utrera on 20 June 2015, at the age of 88. During his lifetime he received honors such as the Premio Nacional del Cante de Córdoba in 1958, the Mostachón de Oro and de Plata, the gold insignia of a Córdoba flamenco peña, and in 2009 the title of Hijo Predilecto de Utrera, as well as a street named after him in his hometown.