Antonio Mairena

Antonio Cruz García, known as Antonio Mairena (Mairena del Alcor, Seville, Spain, 1909-Seville, 1983) was a famous flamenco singer. He led the movement towards the revival of traditional flamenco in the fifties and subsequent decades. He was born in a Gypsy family of smiths and learned to sing in the family environment. An important personality of flamenco, he was the main leader of a movement of flamenco artists and intellectuals who tried to rescue a type of flamenco, which they considered to be pure or authentic.