MUSICIANS
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MANUEL PALACÍN,
Flamenco Singer
Manuel was born in San Miguel de Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. He began singing at the age of five. In 1968 he sang in the Jueves Flamencos organized in Jerez by Manuel Morao where many great Flamenco artists have made their debut. In 1969 he arrived in Madrid for the first time singing in the national contest of Villancicos (holiday songs). In 1972 he performed throughout Madrid in all of the major tablaos including the Torres Bermejas, Las Brujas, Corral de la Moreria, Coral de la Pacheca, Los Canasteros, and Venta del Gato. From 1979 to 1981 he performed in Mexico. Throughout his long career he has worked with many great artists and companies including Manuel Vargas, Merche Esmeralda, Eva la Yerbabuena, Sara Lezana, Blanca del Rey, Juan Mata, Jose, Carmela and Lola Greco, Manolete, Ciro, Joaquin Cortes, Antonio Canales, Javier Latorre, Javier Baron and in the companies of Ballet Conchita del Mar, Ballet Siluetas, Compañia de Fernando Belmonte, Ballet de Rafael Aguilar, Jose Antonio, Ensemble Español, los Ballets Españoles, Ballet Region de Murcia, and the Ballet Nacional de España performing in five continents. Manuel is also a master teacher, presenting courses and special classes on the Flamenco Cante.
PACO FONTA, Flamenco Singer and Guitarist
Paco Fonta is internationally recognized as an outstanding Flamenco guitarist, singer, and composer. He was born in a small town near Jaen in the Andalucian region of Spain, began his professional career performing in tablaos and festivals accompanying singers and dancers such as La Niña de la Huerta and Antonio Molina. He later toured Europe with the Kurt Savoy Trio. In 1985 he won first prize in cante jondo at the Flamenco festival in Jaen. Paco came to Miami in 1986 with his wife Celia, a well known Flamenco dancer, to open the famous Cacharrito’s Place Tablao. Since then, he has performed in all the tablaos in Miami and now produces his own Flamenco Cante Festival to sellout crowds. He works in the U.S. and abroad with the Ensemble Español, Ballet Flamenco La Rosa, Bailes Ferrer and Carman Garza Flamenco Ballet from Venezuela. Paco has been a recipient of the Florida Folk Life Apprenticeship Program as a Master Artist. As a composer, he has collaborated with vocalist Joe Zeytoonian, The Roach Thompson Blues Band, with Indian musicians Paul Leak and Steve Gorn, and most recently with Afro Cuban dance company, Iroko. His guitar and voice can be heard on famous artists recordings such as Gloria Estefan, Olga Tañon & David Beisbal to name a few. Last season Paco joined the EE on their artistic cultural tour to China following the Olympics. He has been the EE’s singer & guitarist since 1979.
MATEO
Scott Davies, Flamenco Guitarist
MATEO, Scott Davies, Flamenco Guitarist (Minneapolis), began studying guitar at age nine. Upon completing high school, he traveled extensively for four years, performing as a folk singer in diverse venues in London, Casablanca, Stockholm and New Delhi. After returning to Minneapolis, Davies founded the pop group "The Rogues", touring the Midwest for the next eleven years. While on the road, he began playing classical guitar. In 1982, Davies moved to Madrid where he began intensively studying flamenco guitar. He returned to Spain each year to perform and continue his studies. Two of his performances have been broadcast on Radio Nacional de España. From 1986 to 1998 Davies was the featured guitarist and 'ud player for Voices of Sepharad, a musical group dedicated to performing the music and dance of Spanish Jewish culture. In May of 1995, Voices of Sepharad received the prestigious Robert and Adelle S. Blank Jewish Arts Award, at a special awards ceremony in New York. Mateo has been the featured guitarist for Chicago’s Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater since 1989 including national and international performances with the company in Puerto Rico, 1994 World Cup and most recently China in the cities of Shenyang, Qinhuangdao, Anshan & Bejing, following the 2008 Olympics. He makes frequent guest appearances with flamenco companies throughout the United States. He is featured on recordings with The Rogues, Dona Peña, Susana Morales, Voices of Sepharad and Noami Gutierrez. In 1995 he released his first solo recording: Paths of Convergence. In 1999 Mateo was involved in the independent film project Puente de Almas. He was the featured guitarist and arranged much of the ensemble music. In 2000 he created RaiAction, a seven member ensemble performing flamenco influenced by the north African Rai music. In that same year, he and dancer Colette Marie Illarde, started their own company, FUEGO Flamenco. In January of 2002, they successfully presented their original production Simply…Flamenco to sold-out houses at St. Paul’s Hamline University. Mateo and Colette were featured finalists on FOX Television’s 30 Seconds to Fame in July 2002. Davies, father of three, is committed to promoting issues related to education and child welfare. A participating sponsor with Children International for several years, Davies also performs regularly at school assemblies, workshops and residency programs. Mateo is the musical director, co-founder and guitarist for FUEGO Flamenco.
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