Fernando el Herrero
Who is Fernando el Herrero?
Fernando Sánchez Moreno, Fernando el Herrero, was born in 1877 in Las Cabezas de San Juan (Seville) and died in Madrid in 1941. His nickname comes from the blacksmith’s trade he practised in his youth, before devoting himself entirely to cante. He was payo, and built his career from a very classical, tradition-respecting standpoint.
Career
He was the leading disciple of Antonio Silva “El Portugués,” who valued him deeply for his dedication to the cantes grandes, and he also held Roma cantaores such as Tomás Pavón and Manuel Torre in high esteem, while maintaining a close friendship with Juanito Mojama. He took part in the tribute to El Portugués held at Seville’s Salón Variedades in 1919, and performed in 1925 at the Hotel Alfonso XIII in the same city, though he built much of his career in the private gatherings and cabales sessions of Madrid rather than on major public stages.
Palos and discography
He specialised in the cantes grandes, above all seguiriyas, cartageneras and tientos, always through a highly pure rendering of the traditional styles. Recordings of his survive with Ramón Montoya on guitar, sonic evidence of a refined style faithful to the tradition he learned from his masters.
Legacy
He is remembered for the way he delivered cante, “with great sweetness and great artistry,” as those who heard him live described it, and he is considered one of the reference voices among payo cantaores who rigorously cultivated the cantes grandes in the early decades of the 20th century.