Curro de Jerez
Who is Curro de Jerez?
Francisco Fernández Loreto, known artistically as Curro de Jerez, was born in 1949 in Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, into a flamenco family: his father was the cantaor Sernita de Jerez, and he himself married the dancer and singer Carmen Loreto, daughter of the guitarist Pedro Montoya, who would also become his artistic father-in-law.
That family environment pushed him toward the guitar early on, and at just fourteen he debuted in Antonio’s ballet company, the troupe with which he traveled much of the world in his early career and with which he made his first recording, alongside Melchor de Marchena and Chano Lobato.
Career
Throughout his professional life he has worked mainly as an accompanying guitarist, both for singing and dancing, working alongside artists such as his father-in-law Pedro Montoya, Manuel Agujetas, Cancanilla, El Gitano de Valladolid and Félix de Utrera, for whom he was second guitarist on various occasions. He was also part of the dancer Blanca del Rey’s company and collaborated with sevillanas groups.
Settled in Madrid, he held the post of lead guitarist at the Corral de la Morería, one of the capital’s most prestigious tablaos, a position that cemented his reputation as an accompanist specializing in bulerías, alegrías, soleares and tarantos.
Style and discography
His playing, forged in the tablao and in direct accompaniment of dance and cante, was captured in 2000 on his only solo album, “Guitarra suena,” released by the label Alía Records, a work that gathers the experience accumulated over decades dedicated to the craft of accompaniment.
Legacy
The Peña Los Cernícalos of Jerez recognized his career with the National Guitar Prize, and in recent years he has poured part of that experience into teaching, giving master classes in guitar, singing and dance at La Merced in Cádiz, passing on to new generations the craft of accompaniment that defined his career.