Grands Cantaores Du Flamenco / Great Masters of Flamenco, Vol. 4

Terremoto de Jerez (1934-1981) was a cantaor who name reflected his voice. ''Terremoto'' means earthquake, and he was certainly a force of nature, a soaring mountain peak, a turbulent cascade, a raging volcano. A pureblood gypsy ''all the way back'', he was born Fernando Fernandez Monje in Jerez de la Frontera, into a family of renowned bailaores (dancers), cantaores (singers), and tocaores (guitarists). Although his talent was highly regarded, Fernando entered no competitions and made no claims for himself. He sang when he felt like singing. He recorded only rarely, and for small companies, but some of his records were later re-released as they are on this volume. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1981 at just 47 years old. ''The Chair of Flamencology and Andalusian Folklore'' published a book on Terremoto in 1984, in which 22 contributors described his genius in as many ways. Today a street in Jerez bears his name.