Guitarist Antonio Carrión has been recognised as the III Ambassador of the Cante Jondo Meeting in La Puebla de Cazalla, in a year that marks his 50 years of professional career.
The guitarist Antonio Carrión, adopted son of La Rinconada, has been distinguished as the III Ambassador of the LVII Cante Jondo Meeting in La Puebla de Cazalla. The award recognises his more than five decades of career and his contribution to flamenco.
A prize for his career
The jury awarded the recognition for “his five decades of impeccable career on stage and his invaluable musical contribution to our greatest identity mark,” according to the minutes. Carrión is the third artist to receive this honorary title in the history of the event.
The musician, who lends his name to the Casa del Flamenco de La Rinconada, thanked for the award and highlighted his bond with the locality: “La Puebla de Cazalla has always been a reference for me in terms of flamenco and human passion, I have many friends here.” He recalled that he has been attending the festival since 1994.
“La Puebla de Cazalla has always been a reference for me in terms of flamenco and human passion, I have many friends here.”
50 years of music
The recognition comes in a special year for Antonio Carrión: 50 years on stage. It all began when his father, Carrión de Mairena, bought him his first guitar at the Sevillian shop of the Hermanos Lozano. Antonio was only ten years old then.
In these five decades, he has collaborated with figures such as Camarón de la Isla, Paco de Lucía, or Enrique Morente, and has performed at the world's major festivals. His career was recognised with the Gold Medal of the Province of Seville last year, and he will soon receive the Pencho Cros Award at the International Festival of Cante de las Minas, as well as a tribute at the FlamencA Festival in Arles (France).
Local pride
For La Rinconada, Carrión's success is a source of local pride. The guitarist, adopted son of the municipality, maintains a close bond with the locality, where he lends his name to the Casa del Flamenco, a space dedicated to the promotion of this art. The mayor of La Rinconada, Javier Fernández, has already expressed his satisfaction with the award on social media.
The LVII Cante Jondo Meeting in La Puebla de Cazalla will take place next August and will feature Antonio Carrión as ambassador. Local fans will be able to enjoy his art live and celebrate this new milestone with him.
