Gracia Montes

Gracia Montes (born March 1, 1936 as Gracia Cabrera Gómez in Lora del Río , Seville Province , Andalusia ) is a Spanish singer in the style of Copla andaluza .

life and career

Childhood and youth

As a child, Gracia showed great interest in the Copla andaluza and Concha Piquer became her great role model. To try her luck in the capital, she goes on a hunger strike. Her parents give in and let her take part in various talent competitions at the age of 13. She works with various singers such as Pepe Pinto and La Niña de los Peines to establish herself in the singing world. After initially only singing the successes of the classic copla trio Quintero León and Quiroga, she then got her own compositions from Ochaito, Valerio and Solano, the second copla trio.

Great successes and sudden withdrawal

Soy una Feria , Poema de mi Soledad and Maruja Limón became great Copla classics, popularized by Gracia Montes. She is even lucky enough to meet her great idol Concha Piquer. She counts singers like Marifé de Triana and Lola Flores among her friends. In 1955 she appeared in Muerte de un ciclista , a film by Juan Antonio Bardem . In 1956 she surprisingly withdrew from show business. Her husband doesn't want her if she continues to work as a singer. Gracia gives in and withdraws for the time being.

Comeback and last years

In 1965 she left her husband and returned to the stage as a singer. She continued to enjoy great success with a wide range of new songs, including Coplas La Niña de Punta Umbría and Palabritas en el viento . In 1978 she appeared on the Cantares show , in Las Coplas in 1990 and Sabor a Lolas in 1994 . In 2002 she withdrew almost simultaneously with her friend Marifé de Triana. In 2009 she became an honorary citizen of Seville.

Discography (selection)

• 1966: Ese día!
• 1967: Será una rosa
• 1976: Lo mejor de Sevilla
• 2002: A tí madre

Web links

• Website dedicated to Gracia Montes (Spanish)
• Biography (spanish)