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| Tomatito |
José Fernández Torres TOMATITO was born in Almería in 1958, in the Pescadería neighbourhood. His family is associated with Almería since many generations back and has an inherent musical tradition. His Grandfather Miguel Fernández Cortés “El Tomate” was a well-known figure at private parties at the turn of the century and among the young aficionados of Almería’s traditional musical evenings, at which he played duets with his brother Antonio.
His father, José Fernández Castro, also “El Tomate”, was a guitar enthusiast at home and played the clarinet in the city’s Municipal Band. His brothers and thus TOMATITO’S uncles, were Antonio, who played the bandurria as a youngster and later developed a career as a guitarist in France playing for artists such as Paco Isidro, and also Miguel "Niño Miguel”, who became a virtuoso classical guitarist in Huelva where he still lives.
José grew up in an environment closely linked to music and especially, to flamenco. He learnt his first chords from his father and grandfather and showed strong musical talent and almost innate ability from an early age.
Before long, at just 10 years old, his first break as an accompanist came about through José Sorroche of Almería’s Peña El Taranto flamenco club. The concert, at which he was presented as “Pepín Fernández”, had extensive coverage in the local press, as if destiny had bestowed a certain degree of notoriety for him right from the start of his public career. From then on, he maintained a close relationship with this Peña and was called on innumerable times to accompany many of the singers who appeared there.
In 1970 his father El Tomate took the family to live in Málaga, where he played in local orchestras. There he arranged for his son to work nightly at La Cañeta’s club in Marbella
Later, he was to appear at the Taberna Gitana as a member of the resident cuadro flamenco. La Kika and Pepito Vargas danced there, among others, and Pedro Escalona played the guitar. Aside from accompanying the dance troupe TOMATITO played solo, normally Entre dos aguas by Paco de Lucía.
He also took lessons at that time with Pedro Blanco and Enrique Naranjo.
These three years were a key period in his career since top artists whom he revered, such as Pansequito, Lebrijano, Paco de Lucía and even Camarón de la Isla, would hear him play for other well-known singers. He met Paco de Lucía at the marquee which the Taberna Gitana would mount at the Málaga Feria. Camarón, who was working at the time in the prestigious Torrebermejas club in Madrid, often spent time in Málaga.
One day when TOMATITO was 15, Camarón de la Isla unexpectedly needed a guitarist to perform at a festival in Málaga. It was suggested that he call on the youngster at the Taberna Gitana who could play Paco de Lucía numbers well, to which Camarón agreed. This was the first encounter TOMATITO would experience with José Monge Cruz, one which would lead to an 18-year professional relationship up to the singer’s tragic death in 1992.
discografia
ROSAS DEL AMOR (1987)
BARRIO NEGRO (1991)
GUITTARA GITANA (1997)
SPAIN (2000)
PASEO DE LOS CASTANOS (2001)
AGUADULCE (2004)
SPAIN AGAIN (2006)
SONANTA SUIITE (2010)
