The campaign that got under way four decades ago to put flamenco on a level with other art forms and spare performers the indignity of taverns and back rooms, continues its implacable march.The president of the Diputación of Cádiz, Francisco González Cabaña, has announced that singer José Soto Soto, known as “José Mercé”, born in Jerez de la Frontera in 1955, winner at the Córdoba contest in 1986, will be named favorite son of the province for his long contribution to the culture, and his distinguished national and international career.
 Growing up in a family of cantaores, Mercé soon discovered his singing ability.As a young boy he sang at the Marbella tablao La Pagoda Gitana owned by singer Jarrito, and at fifteen, in Cádiz, at the legendary Cueva del Pájaro Azul.For many years he specialized in singing for dance, traveling the world with the company of Antonio Gades.In 1998, under the auspices of Vicente Amigo, he recorded “Del Amanecer”, a clearly contemporary declaration for the new milennium, and from that point on, his career took off.In his performances he is regularly backed up by another natural resource of Jerez, guitarist Manuel Moreno Junquera, “Moraíto”, and together they form one of the most admired and successful artistic couples of the history of flamenco. The motion to name Mercé favorite son is to be ratified at the next general assembly of the Diputación, and an official ceremony is set to take place next March 19th, the day of the provincial celebration. All information about José Mercé
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