Spanish music has gained global renown since Franco’s dictatorship ended, becoming even more prevalent worldwide and inspiring other styles of music as well.
Joaquin Sabina is one of the leading Spanish artists and began writing lyrics at age 14. Her songs often address matters of love and heartbreak.
Raphael
Raphael is an internationally acclaimed Spanish singer renowned for his varied repertoire. He has released over fifty successful albums since the 1990s and expanded his popularity throughout Latin America. As one of the pioneers of modern Spanish music, he has opened doors for many other prominent artists to perform.
At nine, he won a European competition of his singing talent and became known for his theatrical gestures and unique musical style, using both flamenco and bullfighting techniques in his performances. He quickly rose through the ranks as an artist renowned for using these physical languages in his performances.
He is an engaging performer who draws large crowds to his concerts. Having sold millions of albums worldwide, and performed on major stages around the globe.
Joaquin Sabina
Joaquin Sabina is an award-winning Spanish singer/songwriter famous for his highly literate, deeply lyrical pop/rock. His songs frequently focus on love, heartbreak and feature baroque literature references in a number of songs.
He began writing lyrics at an early age and quickly established himself in Granada’s musical scene. Soon afterwards he signed a record deal with Movieplay’s small record label to release his first album Inventario in 1978, followed by Malas Compaas and La Mandragora which followed later.
After suffering a stroke in 2000, he went into hiatus for four years, becoming popular amongst young people and winning several awards over time. Some of his most well-known albums are Baladas para un Loco (19 Days and 500 Noches) and Con buena letra II.
Alfredo Kraus
Alfredo Kraus was born in Las Palmas, Canary Islands. As the son of an Austrian journalist and Spanish mother, Alfredo possessed not only an exquisite voice and style but was also an outstanding musician with an intuitive understanding of what to do on stage and in the recording studio.
Kraus made his stage debut in 1956 in Cairo and quickly established himself through performances such as La Traviata alongside Maria Callas in Lisbon, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Werther. Unlike some of his contemporaries such as Placido Domingo or Luciano Pavarotti, however, Kraus avoided empty display in favor of using his vocal prowess as part of each character he was portraying – dying on 10 September 1999 in Madrid.
Jeanette Flores
Jeanette Flores is a multidisciplinary performing artist and educator. With vast dance experience touring with various major recording artists, Jeanette holds a B.A in Theater and Communication Arts from Whittier College as well as conservatory training in Theater Movement and Vaganova Ballet conservatories. Additionally she completed an Institute Residency with Cornerstone Theater Company in the Los Angeles Arts District.
Jeanette lives in Covina with her family. She chose Charter Oak Unified School District as the place for her children to learn, and is an engaged member of her community. Jeanette graduated from Hispanas Organized for Political Equality’s leadership institute and participated in EMERGE California – a political candidate training program.
Her relatives include Maria Leal, Evangelina Flores, Lisa Flores and Monica Flores – and she is more commonly known by her married name: Jeanette Flores-O’Brien.
Miguel Bose
Bose has made his mark in the music industry with his unique style and voice, captivating audiences with Latin rhythms mixed with rock-influenced sounds for an captivating sound that has collaborated with Paulina Rubio, Alejandro Sanz and Shakira among others.
In 1984, Bose released the album Bandido and marked an important turning point in his career. Bandido became an instantaneous hit and quickly rose up the charts across Spain and Latin America; its powerful lyrics and energetic beats make it one of the classic tracks from Bose’s discography.
The next year, Bose released his album Papitwo which included 14 past hits remade with various artists such as Hombres G, Raphael, Natalia Lafourcade and Ana Torroja – and quickly became an instantaneous success, demonstrating his versatility as a singer.