The young gipsy Jose Antonio Valencia Vargas
“Jose Valencia” (formerly known as Joselito de Lebrija) is the new pride of Lebrija, a city commonly known as one of the most important breeding ground of flamenco talent in Andalucia.
The best-known artists from Lebrija are singer Juan Peña “El Lebrijano” and the late guitar player Pedro Bacán. But there are many more.
Jose Valencia in fact mostly has family ties with famous gipsy families in the nearby Jerez de la Frontera. The most famous sprouts of this nest are the mythical singer Tio Borrico and guitar player Parrilla de Jerez.

In 1981, when he was six, he already was a finalist at the rather important “Concurso de Cante Antonio Mairena”.
In 1986, he easily won the “Concurso Juvenil de la Federación de Peñas de Sevilla”. In ’91 already, that is at the age of 16, he made a first tour throughout Europe, with a company built up around guitar player Pedro Bacán. Performances at places like the Parisian Opera and the Festival of Avignon even got him a studio contract for his own live CD.

Together with Enrique El Extremeño, Jose Valencia has meanwhile become the favorite singer of the biggest dancing companies. On a regular basis, he works together with Manuela Carrasco, Farruquito, Antonio Canales, la Compañia Andaluza de Danza and so on.
He also shared the stage with legendary flamenco singers such as Camaron de la Isla and El Lebrijano.
At the 2004 Sevilla Biennial, Arte Flamencos absolute high mass, he performed together with dancers Joaquin Grílo and Andrès Marin and with piano player Dorantes. These performances earned him the title of “Artistica Revelación de la Bienal 2004”, without any doubt a very important honour.

Jose Valencia is a flamenco singer who keeps evolving. Although he is since long a fixed value in his home Andalucia, we felt is was high time for a first european tour as a protagonist.
A not-to-be missed opportunity for any Aficionado.