Yesterday Moraito died.
He is one of the first important names I learned when I started flamenco. Having guitarist friends, you hear about Moraito. Then you realise he is on CDs with all the greatest cantaores.
Last year in Jerez, going to Antonio's class with Keiko and Yoshimi, he waved to us from the other side of the street. Of course he only did that because we were recognisably flamenco people: the girls were Japanese.

Concha got a call from her sister, and then she told us. I went on Facebook, as one does for everything important (lol!) and sure enough, Adela had already posted her shock, and people had responded with an online news article, that he had indeed passed away, and was just about to turn 55 next month.

I would have liked to go to the funeral, and thought at first that we were all going to go, but Rafael and Concha decided to go early without us. I can't imagine the size of the funeral, and the number of distinguished flamencos that will be there.

Moraito comes from a dynasty of flamencos. His uncle Manuel Morao was one of the most important figures in decades past. His son Diego del Morao is already well respected. Moraito is from Jerez and from the barrio Santiago, well known for the way people live (or lived) a flamenco lifestyle, gathering in their patios or in the streets to sing, play guitar and dance.

Moraito