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The text doesn't mention that the nightclub Don ran in 1964(?) was located in Los Gabrieles, where Chacón, Torre and many other legendary artists performed. Just another example of Don's full involvement in and commitment to flamenco.
If anyone has anything to mention about Don, I'm sure others will enjoy reading it.
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: Don Pohren died on Monday (in reply to NormanKliman)
I bought his book 'Art de Flamenco' on my first trip to Andalucia, before I had any idea how much flamenco would become part of my life. It was the start of a great love affair.
RE: Don Pohren died on Monday (in reply to NormanKliman)
How sad! I feel as though I have lost a dear friend.
I never had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Don personally, but I have read and re-read all of his books from the time that they were first published.
RE: Don Pohren died on Monday (in reply to NormanKliman)
I read A way of life only a few weeks ago. What an enjoyable book. Lively and enlightening, containing the good dose of humor as well. I especially like the way it's dealing with large issues. His clear and witty but down to earth manner is so far from say, a politicians, yet what he writes really makes you wonder about society and what we build our lives around. I hope he has left more for us to read. Very sad to hear that he's gone.
RE: Don Pohren died on Monday (in reply to NormanKliman)
I've read Lives and Legends of Flamenco several times and always been amazed and amused by his wonderful stories. I bet he's having a grand juerga with Diego del Gastor, La Fernanda, and all his flamenco buddies from Moron de la Frontera. Viva el arte!!!
Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England
RE: Don Pohren died on Monday (in reply to mrMagenta)
Thanks to you guys posting this I got hold of A Way of Life, and have just finished it. He sounds like such an extraordinary character, and no wonder people warmed to him and he was able to become part of the community.
I sometimes feel quite sad when I read things that say 'the old REAL flamenco has gone, it will never be the same again'. But being realistic I'm not sure I could cope with the all-night alcohol fuelled juergas he describes. Not without the occasional power nap during the procedings anyway!
Not without the occasional power nap during the procedings anyway!
Actually Spanish life is all about that. It is the siesta. Try and go out during siesta...ghosttown. Believe me, it is REAL easy to get used to that life. REAL flamenco or pure flamenco again is a taste issue, don't let it get to you.
ORIGINAL: Ailsa I sometimes feel quite sad when I read things that say 'the old REAL flamenco has gone, it will never be the same again'.
I heard that as well when a friend from the States came to visit. He had been around in the Moron hey day with Diego del Gastor hanging out at Don Pohren's finca. I took him to the Peña Los Socios in Granada and he couldn't believe it, said it was just like falling down a rabbit hole and stepping back in time. There were singers and guitarists just hanging out and playing all night. He loved it said it was just like the good old days. So never say never.
It's the Peña de Socios in our street, belongs to El Niño de las Almendras but it was not open when you were here. He used to open about 1 am and stay open till breakfast every sat night. He had a few problems in that he was mugged one night and the money taken. Also he's in his late 70's so it was all getting a bit much. He still has private juergas there sometimes.
Yo, Kate! Well, my first post here was a bust--or, rather, a nothing. Hit the wrong blasted key.
Anyhow, after your first post about Peña de Socios I was about to whine about not seeing it when we last met you and Harold in Granada. Then I saw your second message. Too bloody bad. What's the neighborhood like these days?
Alicia was in Spain for two months recently, but I had to stay home and work on the blasted book (9th edition now, if one could believe it). But we hope to make it a long trip next year. Plan to visit us in Rota one of these times . . . Estela can vouch for the fact that we don't do serious damage to visitors.
And finally: Don(n) Pohren made the difference between ignorance and semi-literacy for a lot of us--practically the whole generation of us who did NOT get to Morón (or anywhere else) during the Good Old Days. And if Peña d Socios can't quite keep up the tradition these days, there is certainly some other place, waiting to be discovered by the likes of us, that can. (I find some gooood stuff sometimes in Sanlúcar, and it's closer to home than Granada!)
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) when I was there.
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