Manolo Caracol

Manuel Ortega Juárez, also known as Manolo Caracol ( born July 9, 1909 in Seville, Spain, † February 24, 1973 in Madrid, Spain ) was a flamenco singer. He came from a long tradition of flamenco artists of the Roma, as Enrique Ortega and Curro Dulce.

In 1922 Caracol Manolo won along with El Tenazas first prize in the Concurso de Cante Jondo de Granada, which was organized by intellectuals like Manuel de Falla and Federico García Lorca. Early in his career, he sang at private events, which were a common stage for flamenco artists in this time alongside the flamenco cafes.

During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) Manolo Caracol launched a tour with a theater group, since it was difficult because of the war, to find private events. The usual in this type of performance time, the " ópera flamenca ", was a performance of everyday love stories from Andalusia or the environment of the Gypsies. These musical pieces were a mixture of well-known Spanish songs, the Coplas andaluzas or Canciones españoles.

In 1943 he met Lola Flores, with whom he entered into a professional and personal connection. They were the most famous artist couple in the forties of the last century in Spain and some Latin American countries. From this period his most famous songs such as La La niña de fuego and Salvaora. He also played roles in various films like Un caballero famoso (1942 ), Embrujo (1946 ), Jack el Negro ( 1950) and La niña de la venta (1950).

Some purists of the flamenco community criticized Manolo Caracol as a singer of Coplas andaluzas, the singing was regarded as inauthentic style, and because of procedural defects of his performances. Nevertheless, he was seen as one of the singers who present Duende ( flamenco expression for inspiration). He had a deep, throaty, warm voice and sang flamenco songs with passion, originality and a personal touch. He mastered various flamenco styles such as Martinete, Seguiriya, Soleá, Malagueña (especially the style of el Mellizo ) Bulería and Fandango. Especially his performances of Fandango were so personal that they became known as Fandango Caracoleros.

Manolo Caracol died in a traffic accident in Madrid.