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Not everyone will know this fellow, Pollito de California, he’s a flamenco from Northern California who’s known in Spain, probably more so than the US. He’s an interesting blend of singer and festero like comedian. Check it out. Or find his stuff on YouTube.
RE: Pollito de California on podcast... (in reply to estebanana)
I used to run into him on the streets of Madrid. I heard his father was the mayor of a town in California. We spoke only once. I said, “Hey, you’re that Pollito fellow, aren’t you?” He grunted something and asked if I knew of a pensión, so I directed him toward one nearby in calle Príncipe where I’d stayed in my first year or two in Madrid. Years later, I saw him on TV with some gypsy artists from Granada. He was just clapping, but toward the end, they started motioning for him to dance. They shouted, “al suelo” (the ground) a few times, and he eventually complied, throwing himself to the ground and springing back to his feet, much to their delight.
There was another guiri known as el Chipi. I saw him accompany onstage once at a theater or something. He played guitar, sitting with his legs crossed, and from my front-row seat in the audience, I couldn't help but fixate on a cigarette butt stuck to the sole of his shoe that made him look like a character from an Ibáñez comic (Mortadelo y Filemón; 13, Rue del Percebe, etc.)
RE: Pollito de California on podcast... (in reply to Norman Paul Kliman)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Norman Paul Kliman
I used to run into him on the streets of Madrid. I heard his father was the mayor of a town in California. We spoke only once. I said, “Hey, you’re that Pollito fellow, aren’t you?” He grunted something and asked if I knew of a pensión, so I directed him toward one nearby in calle Príncipe where I’d stayed in my first year or two in Madrid. Years later, I saw him on TV with some gypsy artists from Granada. He was just clapping, but toward the end, they started motioning for him to dance. They shouted, “al suelo” (the ground) a few times, and he eventually complied, throwing himself to the ground and springing back to his feet, much to their delight.
There was another guiri known as el Chipi. I saw him accompany onstage once at a theater or something. He played guitar, sitting with his legs crossed, and from my front-row seat in the audience, I couldn't help but fixate on a cigarette butt stuck to the sole of his shoe that made him look like a character from an Ibáñez comic (Mortadelo y Filemón; 13, Rue del Percebe, etc.)
Very interesting. I’ve seen him in Northern California at the various places flamenco happens. The thing is, he hung out with some heavy people in Granada and Madrid. But he’s a guy who can sing some traditional letras and get through it, which I think is as important as good modern technical guitar playing. I also have a great liking of people like Paco Valdepenas and El Mono etc who are characters and don’t depend on guitar to get by.
If I had the time now ( and was in proximity to the right stuff) I think I’d be more serious about singing than guitar playing. I appreciate any American who can get through a handful of letras and be convincing.
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