Curro Malena

Biography

Francisco Carrasco Carrasco was born in Lebrija in 1945. After preparing himself as a singer as member of a gypsy family, at the age of 23 he presented himself to the Mairena del Alcor competition, where he won two first prizes. This enabled him to record together with the genius Niño Ricardo.

He was sponsored by Antonio Mairena himself, whom he met at La Cuadra de Sevilla. In 1971, he won first prize for soleares in the National Contest in Cordoba, which transformed him into an essential figure of leading festivals during four decades. He dominates all the "palos" (types) of cante, is one of the foremost defenders of mairenismo in our time and has recorded a vast collection of vinyl records, a great part of which has not yet been reedited as CDs.

Among the distinctions and awards bestowed to him are the Zapato de Oro de Elche and especially the III Antorcha de oro del cante obtained in Mairena del Alcor in 1984 and the Leyenda del Flamenco award granted in 2016.

He retired from the stage in 2006 after suffering hemiplegia. He was named favourite son of Lebrija on July 19, 2011.

Discography

1969. Curro Malena (LP, Álbum) - Columbia C 7041 

1971. Curro Malena (LP) - Columbia C 7097 

1971. Saetas (7", EP) - Columbia SCGE 81398 

1971. Yunque del cante gitano - Movieplay    S-21408.

1973. Estilos (LP, Álbum) - Movieplay S-14265 

1974. Curro Malena - Movieplay S-21622.

1973. Me Dijo A Mí Una Morena / Dicen Que Te Vas El Lunes (7", Single) - RCA Victor SPBO-2054 

1973. A Mi Dios Se Lo Pedí / Mi Sangre Era Tuya (7", Single) - RCA Victor SPBO-2211 

1974. Poderío Gitano (LP) - Acción AC-40.023 

1974. Curro Malena (LP, Álbum) - Belter 22.843

1975. El Cante Festero De Curro Malena (LP, Álbum) - Belter 23.006

1976. Tangos del costalero gitano - Belter 08.620. 

1976. Quiero Sembrar Un Camino (LP) - Belter 23.164

1977. Curro Malena Con La Guitarra De Pedro Bacán (LP) - Discophon SC. 2314 

1978. Lo Mejor De Curro Malena (LP, Álbum) - RCA Camden SCL1-2290 

1978. Lo mejor de Curro Malena - RCA CK-35196.

1979. Curro Malena (LP) - Discophon 6089

1979. Curro Malena (Cass) - Discophon (S) DC-7202 

1981. Golpe A Golpe De Curro Malena (LP)-  Discophon 27011

1986. Antorcha De Oro Del Cante (LP) - Fonoruz D-132 

1988. Manantial Gitano (LP) - Pasarela PSD-5051 

1992. Calor De Fragua (CD, Álbum) - Cambayá Records, Antequera Records CD-003-F 

1994. Carbón de caña - Auvidis B 3793

2008. Memoria viva de los cantes de Lebrija - Marita Ediciones MTCD10A121

Further information