José Fernández Torres, known as Tomatito (born Almería, 1958), is a Spanish flamenco guitarist. Having started his career accompanying famed flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla (with Paco de Lucía), he has made a number of collaborative albums and seven solo albums, two of which have won Latin Grammy Awards.
One of the best guitarists associated with the nuevo flamenco generation, Tomatito (born José Fernández Torres in Almería, Spain in 1958) grew up in a family of prestigious flamenco lineage, and at only 12 he had managed to impress none other than Paco de Lucía. Still in his teens, Tomatito began to accompany famous cantaores, such as Enrique Morente and La Susi, but he attained definitive flamenco stardom as the great El Camarón de la Isla’s guitarist of choice....
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José Fernández Torres, known as Tomatito (born Almería, 1958), is a Spanish flamenco guitarist. Having started his career accompanying famed flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla (with Paco de Lucía), he has made a number of collaborative albums and seven solo albums, two of which have won Latin Grammy Awards.
One of the best guitarists associated with the nuevo flamenco generation, Tomatito (born José Fernández Torres in Almería, Spain in 1958) grew up in a family of prestigious flamenco lineage, and at only 12 he had managed to impress none other than Paco de Lucía. Still in his teens, Tomatito began to accompany famous cantaores, such as Enrique Morente and La Susi, but he attained definitive flamenco stardom as the great El Camarón de la Isla’s guitarist of choice.
Tomatito became Camarón’s inseparable sidekick during the late singer’s last 18 years of life, and took part in legendary tours and recordings such as La Leyenda del Tiempo. Tomatito also developed a solo career, dazzling audiences at festivals in Spain and abroad, playing at some of the world’s most renowned venues, and winning countless accolades, as well as composing music for films and orchestra and collaborating on various projects by other artists. By 2013 he had released seven solo albums and one anthology.
José Monge Cruz (5 December 1950 – 2 July 1992), better known by his stage name Camarón de la Isla, was a Spanish flamenco singer. Considered one of the all-time greatest flamenco singers, he was noted for his collaborations with Paco de Lucia and Tomatito, and the three of them were of major importance to the revival of flamenco in the second half of the 20th century.
Alongside Camarón, Tomatito recorded discs that are now essential references in the flamenco archive, such as "La Leyenda del Tiempo " and "Como el Agua". In the latter, Tomatito accompanies with Paco de Lucía.
After the death of Camarón, Tomatito began his career as a soloist, dazzling audiences with his exquisite sensitivity.His charismatic personality and a firm commitment to the development and dissemination of flamenco worldwide mean that Tomatito now enjoys the recognition he deserves, not only in the field of music but also in film, theater and art. He has won a total of five Grammy Awards (one with Michel Camilo) and a Latin Grammy for his albums "Aguadulce" and “Soy Flamenco”.
He has collaborated with many performers from around the world, such as Elton John and Frank Sinatra, and has influenced a whole generation of young guitarists. And on the occasions when he has ventured into other musical fields, such as jazz, has always remained true to his principles. His latest album, "Soy Flamenco", presents an elegant and mature musician at the height of his art.
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