José Luis y su Guitarra
Who is José Luis y su Guitarra?
José Luis Martínez Gordo, known artistically as José Luis y su Guitarra, was born in Jaén on June 11, 1936. He grew up and studied in Madrid, where he trained as a civil engineer. He played guitar and sang as an amateur until, in early 1958, he brought some home recordings to Radio Madrid.
Career
The station immediately offered him a weekly program, which was an instant hit with listeners, and shortly afterward the record label Philips signed him. His first EP included “Ecos de mi cantar,” his own composition with lyrics by Javier Quintero, alongside the tracks “Poker,” “Campesina” and “Mariquilla” — the latter written in a military camp in memory of his girlfriend, María del Carmen Dalmau, whom he married in July 1959. His songs, including one dedicated to his native Jaén, sold notably well in Spain, Mexico and South America, and ranked among the most-played tracks of the era on Spanish radio.