Francisco Ortiz.

by Estela Zatania

Málaga-born flamenco singer Francisco Ortiz passed away Thursday night in New York City. Having grown up in Málaga where his father’s chocolate factory on Mármoles street was a meeting-place for local flamenco artists, he used to talk of frequent visits to the house of legendary singer Enriqueta Reyes, “Repompa de Málaga” which also tended to attract young flamenco artists from the neighborhood.

with Fernanda Romero	with Chano Lobato

While still a young man, Ortiz emigrated to the United States after touring South America with Manolo Caracol, Juanito Valderrama and other stars of the era.He settled in New York and became a permanent fixture of the flamenco scene that included guitarists Sabicas and Mario Escudero, as well as Jerez singer Domingo Alvarado, and Pepe Segundo from Triana.He toured for a time with Antonio Gades, and in the mid nineteen-sixties, when Paco de Lucía first went to New York with José Greco’s troupe, Ortiz was part of the inner circle of knowledgeable flamencos who chaperoned the boy around the city and introduced him to Sabicas, a meeting which has become one of the great anecdotes of flamenco history.

with el maestro Sabicas	with Manolo Caracol

Ortiz married and raised a family in New York, while continuing to maintain a home in Málaga and never forgetting his background in flamenco singing; until well late in life he was a sought-after cantaor for flamenco dance in the United States. He also served as inspiration for young flamenco hopefuls with whom he generously shared his vast collection of historic flamenco recordings as well as his knowledge.

with Juan Valderrama and Dolores Abril

with La Repompa

with Carmen Amaya