Juan Serrano

Juan Serrano has been acclaimed as the best flamenco guitarist in the world and his incredible musical execution has been witnessed and enjoyed by millions around the world. Serrano has drawn awe and praise from his audiences, aficionados, critics and artistic peers.
Serrano's mastery of flamenco comes not only from his many years of discipline and study of guitar, but also because he was born and raised in Cordoba, Spain, the birthplace of this rich and dazzling music. At age nine, Serrano was studying under his father Antonio el del Lunar, a professional guitarist, and learning the traditions of flamenco, which is a fusion of Jewish, Moorish, Christian and gypsy musical elements between the 8th and 15th centuries in southern Spain.
Juan made his professional debut at the age of thirteen and as a teenager earned a reputation all over Spain and Europe as a gifted musician. His hometown was so proud of the guitarist's accomplishments that they replaced the bell in the town clock with recordings of his guitar playing. During his career, Serrano has performed on major television and radio programs throughout the world. In addition, he has starred in many movies filmed in Spain and South America. The guitarist has authored several music books,
Serrano has received many awards in his career, including the Potro de Oro from his hometown of Cordoba. This prestigious honor is awarded once every ten years and Serrano is the only guitarist to ever be honored. Serrano received the Page One Ball from the Newspaper Guild of New York for his outstanding performances. He was also awarded the Medalla de Oro from the Spanish Academy of Fine Arts, the Catedra de Flamencologia from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
The city of Fresno bestowed Serrano with the Fabulous Fresnan and Horizon awards. He was made an Honorary Member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and received the University Artist Award of 1998 by Phi Kappa Phi at California State University.
Serrano is the first flamenco guitarist in the world to receive a doctorate of humane letters in flamenco guitar. He developed and directed the guitar program at California State University and is now retired and has received a Professor Emeritus status. The only remaining expert in this fascinating style of music, Serrano continues to perform and lecture. He is much sought after as a performer, for master classes and as a guest lecturer on the history of flamenco.
Serrano has produced many talented students that are now performing internationally, solo and in groups. He has many that have entered the teaching profession and others that have publications and recordings using his ideas and methods.
Juan Serrano made his first professional debut at the age of 13 in 1947 in the Gran Teatro of Cordoba, Spain, with a theatrical performance titled “Rumbo”. It starred Fernando Granada and Tina Gasco. In 1948 he toured Spain with the company of Juanito Azuaga and Maria la Faraona. In 1949, another tour followed in Spain and Morroco with the company of Canalejas de Puerto Real. In this same year the artist toured all of Andalucia with Pepe Marchena.
In 1950 Serrano debuted in the Poliorama Theatre of Barcelona with the company of Manolo el Malagueño. He recorded two records titled “Celos de la Espuma” and “Guapa Doncella” with Columbia Records. When his contract ended he continued as the exclusive guitarist of Manolo el Malagueño. One of the companies that was formed during this period was in collaboration with the singer Lolita Caballerro.
In 1952 he signed an 8 month contract with Pepe Pinto, performing throughout Spain. It was the first time that the artist had the opportunity to accompany the very famous singer, Pastora Pavon, Niña de los Peines.
During the 1953-54 period Serrano was the first guitarist of the company of Conchita Piquer. The dancing troupe included Alejandro Vega, Adolfo Moran, Elena de Montevar and Paco Aguilera, son. At this time he also recorded several records in Barcelona with el Cojo de Huelva for Odeon. He later performed with Adelfa Soto and Luquitas de Marchena. The 1955 season he toured with Angoñita Andalucia and Angel Romero under the empresario Juan J. De Lara.
During the years 1948 through 1955 Serrano spent his free time in Cordoba performing at Venta La Primera of Manuel Zurita Platerito (godfather of Juan Serrano) There he accompanied his great friend and extraordinary artist, Curro de Utrera, along with Niño de la Magdalena, El Piojillo, Gonzalo Reyes and all the great artists of Cordoba during this time.
In 1955 Serrano performed at private parties in Madrid at Villa Rosa in the Plaza Santana. While there he accompanied Don Jose Cepero, Pepe el de la Matrona, Bernardo de los Lobitos, Antonio el Chaqueta, El Cojo Madrid, Rafael Romero, Antonio Mairena, Manolo Caracol, Rafael Farina, Juanito Varea, Pepe el Culata and many others.
In 1957 Serrano was contracted by the Corral de la Moreria. For many years he accompanied the following artists:
Male Singers: Antonio Fernandez Fosforito, Porrinas de Badajoz, El Beniz de Cadiz, Jose Fernandez El Chaleco, Enrique Ortega, Carderas de Salamanca and others
Female Singers: La Paquera de Jerez, La Repompa, La Cañeta, Dolores de Cordoba, Fernanda y Bernarda de Utrera and others Male Dancers: Farruco, El Guito, Mario Maya, Los Pelaos and others Female Dancers: Carmen Amaya, La Chunga, La Quica, Lucero de Tena, Regla Ortega, Pastora Imperio and others
During this period he also performed in El Catalan, a famous tablao flamenco in Paris. In 1959 he signed an exclusive contract with la Chunga touring all of South America, the United States, France and Spain. Later during 1960-61 Serrano performed with Juanito Valderrama and Dolores Abril. The company also included Enrique Montoya and Emilio el Moro. He recorded several LPs with Juanito and some solo records with RCA.
In 1961 he performed at the Corpus Christi festival in Granada. In December he signed a lucrative contract with the legendary impresario, Sol Hurok. His first concert with Hurok was in Town Hall in New York. The reviews of this performance were stupendous, “ten fingers that sound like twenty” among many others. He was immediately offered a recording contract with Elektra. The first LP “Ole la Mano” was a huge success in the United States. With Hurok, he toured the world. After 4 Lps with Elektra, he signed an exclusive with RCA in America, having success with each LP.
Many of his unforgettable presentations were with the Kennedy family at the State Department in Washington, DC, at the Fortaleza in San Juan, Puerto Rico for President Muñoz Marin; a performance at la Fortaleza in the Philippines. One of the most memorable performances for the artist was at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York where he received the Gold Medal of Fine Arts from Bellas Artes, presented by Don Joaquin Calvo Sotelo. 1966 brought another prestigious award from the University of Fairfield in Connecticut where he received an honorary doctorate (Honoris Causa) along with dancer, Jose Greco and the Spanish Ambassador in the U.S., Mery del Mar.
In the 1980s the artist signed a contract with California State University, Fresno where he was director of the guitar program until December 2004. During this period he continued touring, recording CDs, videos and DVDs and writing music books and the history of flamenco.
PUBLICATIONS with Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
The Flamenco/Classical Guitar Tradition Systematic Studies for Flamenco Guitar The King of the Flamenco Guitar Sabor Flamenco Flamenco, Body and Soul Guitar Solos Concert Selections Flamenco Basic Techniques
HONORS AND TROPHIES
Best Book of the Year, Mel Bay Publications, Inc. Phi Kappa Phi "Artist of the Year" and Honorary Member Award from the University of Guanajuato, Mexico Horizon Award, Fabulous Fresnan, Fresno, CA. Potro de Oro, Cordoba, Spain Gold Medal of Fine Arts, Madrid, Spain Page One Ball, The Newspaper Guild of New York Cátedra de Flamencología, Jerez, Spain Capitel de Oro from la Peña los Palcos, Spain
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES PERFORMANCES
Since 1963, Serrano has toured the world performing in the major theaters. He has made special performances for the Spanish Embassies. The artist has been a guest artist on many international television programs.
FILMS
Spanish Affair (Paramount Pictures) with Richard Kiley and Carmen Sevilla, 1958 director, Daniel Amfitheatrof (USA) Échame a mi la Culpa with Miguel Aceves Mejias and Lola Flores, 1958, director, Fernando Cortez (Mexico) Donde vas Alfonzo XII with Paquita Rico and Vicente Parras, 1958, director, Luis Caesar Amadori (Spain/Argentina) Pan Amor y Andalucia with Victorio de Sica and Carmen Sevilla, 1958, director, Javier Seto, Producer Victorio de Sica, (Italy) Canto Para Ti with Marife de Triana, 1958 director, Sebastian Almaida La Novia de Juan Lucero with Juanita Reina and Angel Peralta, 1959 Dos Novias para un Torero with Manuel Capetillo and Alicia Calderon, 1959 Europa de Noche with Carmen Sevilla, director, Alessandro Blasetti (Italy) La Copla Andaluza with Rafael Farina, 1959 The Orson Welles Family Vacation in Europe, director, Orson Welles, 1961
DISCOGRAPHY
Recorded in Spain 1953 – 1960
RCA-LPs
Juanito Valderrama con Juanito Serrano-VIK 3028 Juanito Valderrama con Juanito Serrano-VIK 3029 Fiesta Flamenca, La Guitarra Flamenca de Juan Serrano-LPM3596 Juan Serrano FPM120
45s
Fosforito con Juanito Serrano-421 217PE, Philips Manolo de la Ribera con Juanito Serrano, Estilos de Almeria, Vol. l--HH16-268 Manolo de la Ribera con Juanito Serrano, Creaciones, Vol. II--HH 16-269, Hispavox
Odeon Juan Serrano con El Cojo de Huelva 1954
Columbia Records--78s Juan Serrano con Manolo el Malagueño, Vol. 1 & 2 1953
LPs RECORDED IN THE USA../albums/h196/Locust777/blueblockhorizontal.jpg"ELEKTRA - Olé La Mano Flamenco Fenómeno-EKS 7235 Bravo Serrano-EKS 7275
RCA - Juan Serrano at the World's Fair-LPM 3328 Juan Serrano Plays Popular Music of Spain and the Old World-LSP 3459 Fiesta Flamenca, The Flamenco Guitar of Juan Serrano-LPM 3596 The Flamenco Guitar of Juan Serrano, Flamenco Songs with Passion and Imagination-LPM 3644 The Flashing Glittering World of the Flamenco Guitar of Juan Serrano-LSP 3781 The Flamenco Guitar of Juan Serrano Cante Hondo,The Improvisational Folk Art of the Spanish Gypsies-LSP3872
AUDIOFIDELITY - Flamencisimo-AFSD 6251
MATE - Juan Serrano in a selection of arrangements for the Latin Population-047
CONCORD PICANTE - Sabor Flamenco-CCD 4490
PHILIPS - Grandes Guitarras-Juan Serrano with La Paquera de Jerez and La Chunga
PLANET RECORDS - The Masters of Flamenco, Volumes 1-5 The Masters of Flamenco, The Art of Juan Serrano, Vol. 6 BMG Flamenco Festival
RECORDINGS ON MP3
Guitar Magic Juan Serrano, Blazing Guitar Memories of Cordoba,Vol.1 Memories of Cordoba, Vol.2 Gypsy Spirit
Juan Serrano recorded the music of the clock in the Tendillas Square of Cordoba, Spain in 1959. It is the only clock in the world that gives the hours with“soleares”
VIDEOS & DVDS
Serrano Flamenco Video Flamenco Tradition, Vol. 1 Flamenco Tradition, Vol. 2 Flamenco Tradition, Vol. 3 The Art of Accompanying Flamenco Dance
In July, 2005 Cordoba offered the artist a memorable homage. He received a silver statue of Saint Rafael, the patron saint of Cordoba, a silver guitar from the mayor Doña Rosa Aguilar, and various trophies commemorating his artistic career.
In December of 2005 Serrano retired from the University of California and moved to Longwood Florida. He continues to perform and record.
CDs
MAGAZINE COVERS