José
María Roldán, “Pepe de Sevilla”
José María Roldán, “Pepe de Sevilla” was
born in Seville, Spain. Pepe was first introduced to flamenco at a very
young age during his baptismal celebration in Seville where the singer
“Niño de Jerez” sang among others. “Niño de Jerez” later known
as “Manuel Torre” was one of the greatest flamenco singers of all
time. Pepe arrived in Mexico City in 1949 where he sang at “La Gran
Tasca”, “El Colmao”, “La Bodega”, “Rincón de Goya”, “Venta
de los Titeres”, “Rio Rosa” and “Plaza de Toros”. He traveled
throughout Mexico on tour with his Flamenco group “Los Majaretas de
Triana” and in Ciudad Juarez was contracted for 4 years at the famous
restaurant-bar “El Alcazar” where he was accompanied by great guitarists
such as: Roberto Rojas Barrales, Manolo Parra, Gustavo Reza “El Buzo”.
From 1957 to 1971 Pepe owned the famous “Bar Sevilla” in El Paso,
Texas, which was the meeting place of many great intellectuals and Flamencos
of the time including: Agustín Castellón “Sabicas”, Antonio Triana,
Luisa Triana, Maestro Manolo Matos, Miguel Galvez “El Niño de las
Cabezas”, Juan Perrín, bullfighter John Fulton Short, Nobel Prize
winner Pearl Buck and Flamenco Dance Company of Jimenez-Vargas to name
a few. Pepe is currently being accompanied by his son-Flamenco Guitarist
José María Roldán, III. Pepe recently relocated to the Austin area
with his son and family.
José
María Roldán, III
José María was born in El Paso, Texas. Flamenco
has been an integral part of his life since his early childhood, especially
during the years he lived in Seville Spain. José María began studying
the flamenco guitar during his late teens with guitarists such as the
virtuoso Lionel James, Pepe Marco, and his cousin Manuel Antonio Roldán
from Seville. In recent years, José María’s main focus has been
the accompaniment of singers and dancers. He has worked with many great
flamenco artists such as: flamenco singer José María Roldán, “Pepe
de Sevilla” (his father); guitarists Lionel James, R.J. Fox, and Lewie
Booth; flamenco dancers Sonia Santamaía, Coral Citron, Andrea Del Conte,
Vanessa Alvarado, and Margo Torea. José María has performed in theater
productions, hotel and casino venues, corporate events, and on television.
Additionally, he and his group performed at the 2005 American Folk Festival
in Bangor, Maine, and at the famous Feria de Abril, in Seville, Spain.
He was a member of the faculty of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Dance Department as a flamenco accompanist. Besides performing and accompanying
dance classes, José María also teaches flamenco guitar to a limited
number of students. José María collaborated with his father and a
wide array of flamenco artists to form “The Spirit of Flamenco”
to present a traditional “tablao style” interpretation of pure flamenco.
José María moved to the Austin area with his family last year.
