Cobitos

Biography

Manuel Celestino Cobos, Cobitos, was born in Jerez de la Frontera in 1896 and died in Granada on 22 February 1986. His artistic career began at a very young age; he enrolled in Flamenco shows that travelled through different towns and villages in Seville, Jaén, Granada, Huelva and Córdoba. In his early years he was mainly known for his activities in private fiestas in Granada, where moved while he was still very young.

He was intimate friend of Frasquito Yerbagüena, so he gave a good rendering of the latter's style of Fandangos, but he was also well versed in the Levante style of singing (Mineras, Tarantas, Murcianas and Cartageneras), as well as Malagueñas and Granaínas. He also mastered the technique for singing Solearesfrom Triana which he learned from Antonio Silva "El Portugués", Seguiriyas, Tientos and Bulerías. He was a great admirer of Antonio Chacón and one of the artists most admired in the city renowned for the Alhambra.

He was considered to be the model for a serious, faithful and orthodox "cantaor" (Flamenco singer). He lived a long life and so had personal experience of practically all the stages which Flamenco passed through: Flamenco cafés, theatres, the Granada competition in 1922, festivals, clubs, competitions, inns, private fiestas, taverns, celebrations... All his accumulated experience and close contact with most of the legendary figures from the Golden Age of Flamenco singing have led to him becoming real institution, a living legend of the history of Flamenco.