José Mercé
Who is José Mercé?
José Soto Soto, known artistically as José Mercé, was born on 19 April 1955 in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), into a first-rate Roma flamenco lineage: he is the great-grandson of Paco de la Luz, nephew of Manuel Soto Monje, and cousin of fellow cantaor Vicente Soto Sordera. His stage name comes from the choir school of the Basílica de la Merced in Jerez, where he sang from the age of six, first in Latin as an altar boy.
He recorded his first record at just thirteen years old. In 1968 he moved to Madrid, to the home of his uncle El Sordera, and began performing at the Torres Bermejas tablao alongside figures such as Mario Maya and Carmen Mora, earning 500 pesetas a night.
Career and consecration
Starting out in the most orthodox singing style, José Mercé went on to become the best-selling cantaor in the history of flamenco, a phenomenon many within the genre consider unique. Albums such as “Del amanecer” (1998), “Aire” (2000), and “Lío” (2002) marked his leap to a much wider audience than that of traditional flamenco, without abandoning the Jerez roots of his singing.
His discography also includes “Verde Junco” (1985), “Caminos reales del cante” (1987), “Hondas raíces” (1991), “Desnudando el alma” (1994), “Confí de Fuá” (2004), “Lo que no se da” (2006), “Ruido” (2010), “Mi única llave” (2012), “Doy la cara” (2016), “De verdad” (2018), and “El Oripandó” (2022).
Recognition
He has received honours such as the Medal of Andalusia (2010) and the Taranto de Oro and Compás del Cante awards from the Fundación Cruzcampo (2016), recognitions that cement his place among the great living cantaores of contemporary flamenco.