José Vargas Vargas 'Mono de Jerez'

1946-2006

Fotos: Estela Zatania excepto portada, Inma Puchal Texto: Estela Zatania He didn’t like to be known as a “festero”. But José Vargas el “Mono de Jerez”, was the undisputed number one in that flamenco subdivision which few people manage nowadays, a kind of flamenco minstrel that combines song, dance and good humor in one expansive personality. In his adolescence, living in the barracks of migrant field-workers around Jerez and Lebrija, he was already known as a talented dancer. But he didn’t care for that life and early on decided to make his way as a performer, a path that was almost equally rugged in those days. Like other young people of his generation from Jerez, he received the support of Manuel Morao who helped him jump-start his career.
con Parrilla de Jerez	con Luis el Zambo

As is often the case with festeros, he wasn’t a great dancer or
singer, but compás, life experiences and good flamenco instincts
came together in him in the most sublime way, yielding an absolutely essential
personality. You’d see him at fiestas, local fairs, gatherings of
friends, flamenco clubs, festivals, small theaters, always getting the
audience eating right out of the palm of his hand with the greatest of
ease. Perhaps the image I remember best, almost his trademark, is how
he would hop about to compás with an imaginary jumprope.

But it wasn’t all flamenco pranks. Mono also knew serious cante,
and particularly in siguiriyas he would sometimes hit upon unexpected
inspiration. He liked people to consider him a real singer, and for years,
each autumn, he gave a course in cante initiation at the Jerez flamenco
club, Tío José de Paula. Among other recording collaborations,
in 1988 he participated on the record “Cayos Reales, Los Juncales
de Jerez” with other prominent Jerez flamenco artists.

A few years ago at a Viernes Flamenco in Jerez I asked him a few questions
for an interview I never got around to writing. One of the questions was,
how would he like to be remembered, and I was sure he’d say “as
a flamenco singer”. But no. With his natural humility and humanity
he replied: “I just want them to say I was a good person”.

José Vargas, el Mono de Jerez, was a great artist, unique in his
specialty, festero and flamenco singer and yes, an excellent person who
will always be missed by flamenco fans.