El Cigala
Full name
Date of birth
Place of birth
Biography
Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar was born in Madrid in 1968. He is nephew of Rafael Farina and began singing in his neighbourhood El Rastro, where he began performing in the local associations. At the age of twelve, he won first prize in the Youth Flamenco Competition of Getafe and the television contest “Young People”, which served to dedicate himself to flamenco professionally. It has travelled worldwide accompanying the dance of artists like Faíco, Mario Maya, Manolete, El Güito, Farruco and Manuela Carrasco. He has also worked on the albums Camarón, of which he is a loyal follower, Gerardo Núñez, Tomatito and in 2012 with María Dolores Pradera. Although he himself claims that his great master is Ramón el Portugués, the truth is that the influence of camaronero cannot be removed from his song. He has recorded several albums, all achieving great success.
Diego won with” Lágrimas Negras” in 2004, a Grammy, three Music Awards, an Ondas Award, five Amigo Awards, three platinum Records in Spain and one in Argentina, Mexico and Venezuela. The New York Times praises it as "Best Record of the Year" in the Latin Music category and Bebo Valdés and Diego “el Cigala” fill the best theatres in the world.
Discography
1998 UNDEBEL- Dieguito El Cigala. EMI - Odeon 7243 4 94808 2 7. First album, including the participation of: David Amaya, Paquete, Tomatito, J.M. Cortina, Bandolero, Chaboli and El Piraña.
2000 ENTRE VARETA Y CANASTA - El Cigala. 18 Chulos Records 21102. Accompanied by the guitar of Niño Josele and a large group of percussionists. The unique voice of El Cigala moves with naturalism and feeling in rhythms as different as martinetes, bulerías and fandangos. The launch of the album was accompanied by a video created by Fernando Trueba.
2001 CORREN TIEMPOS DE ALEGRÍA - El Cigala. (CD, Álbum) Ariola, BMG España 74321865422. At the zenith of his capacities, Diego has found his own metal. He plays seguíriyas, nana, alegrías, guajira, bolero, rumba, tangos, tanguillos and bulerías. With the trumpet of Jerry González and the veteran pianist Bebo Valdés.
2002 DIEGO El Cigala con Niño Josele. Live at the Teatro Real. (CD, Album) Ariola, BMG Spain 74321 97119 2
The voice of Diego with the guitar of Niño Josele, live at the Teatro Real on July 25, 2002: soleá, songs from Levante, fandangos from Huelva, tientos/tangos, bulerías and natural fandangos.
2003 LÁGRIMAS NEGRAS - El Cigala & Bebo Valdés (6 Versions)
In “Lágrimas Negras” the pained voice of Diego El Cigala and the piano of Bebo Valdés come together to interpret rhythms that are foreign to each of them: Diego sings boleros, tangos and coplas, while Valdés accompanies with his piano the flamenco version of classics: La bien pagá, Lágrimas Negras o Nieblas del riachuelo.
2003 Bebo & Cigala - Lágrimas Negras (CD, Album, Dig) Calle 54 Records, Ariola, BMG Spain 82876530862
2003 Bebo & Cigala - Lágrimas Negras (CD, Album, Gat) Ariola, BMG Spain 82876559102
2003 Bebo & Cigala - Lágrimas Negras (CD, Album) Calle 54 Records 82876-55910-2
2004 Bebo & Cigala - Lágrimas Negras (Special Edition) (CD, Album, Dig + DVD, PAL, Liv) Ariola, BMG Spain 82876671592
2009 Bebo & Cigala - Lágrimas Negras (LP, Gat) Calle 54 Records 88697571691
2013 Bebo & Cigala - Lágrimas Negras (10th Anniversary) (2xCD, Album, RE + 2xDVD-V, Copy Prot., NTSC + digital book) Calle 54 Records, Sony Music 88883771902. The documentary captures the euphoria of the birth and creation of "Lágrimas Negras".
2005 PICASSO EN MIS OJOS – Diego El Cigala: (CD, Álbum, Dig) Sony BMG, Ariola 82876719032 and (CD, Álbum, Jew) Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Ariola 82876723502
Guitars: Paco de Lucía, Tomatito, Raimundo Amador, Josemi Carmona, Diego Morao, Manuel Parrilla and Paquete. Trumpet: Jerry González. With the contributions of: Ramón El Portugués, Yumitus, Porrina, Bandolero, Juañares, Piraña...
2008 DOS LÁGRIMAS - Diego El Cigala: Dos Lágrimas (CD, Álbum) Edge Music 00289 477 8333 and (CD, Álbum, Dig) Cigala Music 9788498154764
Fusion of flamenco and copla with traditional music from Latin America: Boleros, chachachá, copla and tango.
2010 CIGALA & TANGO (CD, Álbum, Dig) Cigala Music 8425536000393; (2xLP) Cigala Music 843 701130306 and in 2011 CD, Álbum) Cigala Music 477 9716
Recorded live during the concert of Diego El Cigala at the mythic Teatro Gran Rex in Buenos Aires. A review of classical and contemporary tango repertoire. Accompanied by Andrés Calamaro, Néstor Marconi and Juanjo Domínguez, the guitarist Diego El Morao, the Cuban double-bass player Yelsy Heredia, the pianist Jaime Calabuig “Jumitus” and the percussionist Sabú Porrina.
2013 ROMANCE DE LA LUNA TUCUMANA – DIEGO EL CIGALA (CD, Álbum) Deutsche Grammophon 4791066 Barcode 028947910664 and (CD, Álbum) Cigala Music, Prisa Música D.L. M-9028-2013
Diego el Cigala, Diego García, guitarist Andrés Calamaro and the percussionist Changuito are the three pillars of this album. There is milonga, chacarera, popular Argentinean music by Mercedes Sosa and much fusion
2014 Diego El Cigala with the guitar of Diego del Morao - En Vivo Vuelve el Flamenco (CD, Álbum) Cigala Music D.L. M-12070-2014, barcode 8 437011 303004
The return of the most pure “El Cigala”, delving into this origins and flamenco, recorded live with the guitarist Diego del Morao.
2016 Indestructible (CD, Álbum) Sony Music Latin 88985365392
Fusion of flamenco and salsa. With 70 musicians from 5 countries that accompany him in recovering songs by Ray Barreto, Tito Curet, Cheo Feliciano, René Touzet and interpreters like Héctor Lavoe, La Sonora Ponceña, La Fania All Stars, Oscar d'León and Rocío Jurado includes "Se nos rompió el amor". The project culminates in Jerez de la Frontera with flamenco additions: clapping, choirs, box and the guitar of Diego el Morao.
