Yesterday’s copla was covered in mourning for the loss of Gracia Montes (one of the most beloved singers of this genre). Consecrated as “the voice of glass”, she died in Seville, sheltered by her family at the age of just 86. Gracia Cabrera, or Gracia Gomez as she was known, was born March 1, 1936, in Lora del Rio, a Sevillian town. She will be buried there this Saturday.
Her voice was known for her flamenco skills as a child and she took part in many charity events. Her catapult in the late 50s was radio shows like “Cabalgata De fin de semana”, by Bobby Deglane. There she charmed listeners with songs such as “Maruja Limon” or “Sera una Rosa”.
Juan Antonio Bardem, a filmmaker, included her in ‘Death of a Cyclist’. This film was a classic in which Montes performed some fandangos. Jose Luis Saenz de Heredia also featured her in “Historias de la radio”. Her career was not like that of the Guadiana. She retired in the sixties out of sentimental reasons and returned to full force in the seventies. It was her greatest hit with ‘Soy una feria,’ a song written by Juan Solano and Rafael de Leon. She released numerous LPs with new songs and greatest hits from then to 2002. She suffered a brain aneurysm in 2006, which she later recovered from. Since then, she has lived with her family in Seville, far from the tablaos, studios, and the spotlight.
