He belongs to that generation of artists who moved in the 70s between the tablaos for tourists and the defense of cante jondo. Cancanilla de Málaga is considered to be one of the best cantaores of the moment, due to his wide control of the flamenco palos and his (almost) perfect rhythmic singing.
Sebastián Heredia Santiago, Cancanilla de Málaga -formerly, Cancanilla de Marbella-, was born in 1951 in Marbella. His family had an important flamenco ancestry. So the natural thing was that he followed the path as an artist, and also in the case of his brothers, La Chicha and Taroque, prestigious dancers.
He also started in dance. At the age of 12, he was already on stage at the tablao El Platero, in his hometown. I would go through some more, such as Venta Ana María or Pagoda Gitana. He would cross paths with the dancer José Greco, who took him to New York when he was only 15 years old. Cancanilla de Málaga rubs shoulders with Matilde Coral, Paco de Lucía, Farruco…
When he returned to Spain months later, Manolo Caracol hired him in his Madrid tablao Los Canasteros. Years later, he would also do it on the premises of Lola Flores and Pescaílla, as well as in the Corral de la Morería, with Blanca del Rey.
BIO
Birth
Marbella (Malaga), 1951
Family
María Santiago, cantaora, and El Chanete, are her parent She has three brothers who were involved in dance, although one died very young and the other two are retired.
Discography
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- Ensalada flamenca (1971), El cante de Cancanilla (1972), Poderío y arte (1977), Gitano errante (1987), Bronce fundido (1993), Disco colectivo (1998), XV Concurso Nacional de Arte Flamenco de Córdoba (2001), Entre viejos zarzales (2010).
Cancanilla of Malaga and its almost perfect compass
With Javier Barón (National Dance Prize in 2008), he won the first Giraldillo de Baile at the Seville Biennial, but the Malaga-born dancer was already working on something else: perfecting his cante.
He was right. He was called upon by the most prestigious figures in dance for accompaniment, what is called “a cantaor de atrás”. His art was recognised in 1998 with the Enrique El Mellizo Prize at the National Flamenco Art Competition in Cordoba. In the 21st century, he decided to turn his career around.. Today he is, by right, one of the best cantaores “de adelante”.
The reasons for being on the list of the best flamenco are, apart from its sensitivity and the ability to transmit that gypsy culture that is in its blood. Result: a perfect rhythmic quadrature with which he interprets. Bulerías por soleás, seguiriyas, fandangos… a todo le da el punto de cocción perfecto con esa personalidad en el escenario que le hace aún más grande.
And impressive show to see Cancanilla and many more.
Great artists such as Israel Fernández, Pepe Habichuela and Remache, as well as Cancanilla of Malaga, come together to pay homage to La Cañeta de Málaga in a unique show. We leave you the trailer for you to take a look at and the link if you want to enjoy it in full.