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Rosario (Flores)

About:

4 November 1963

Born as Rosario González Flores in Madrid of Roma origin she was raised in a musical family with legendary flamenco guitarist Antonio González (El Pescaílla) as father and famous actress, dancer and singer Lola Flores La Faraona as mother. At the age of ten she made a first appearance in the TV show ‘Al fin solos’ where she sung the songs ‘Calé’ and the Lorca composition ‘Mariana Pineda’. It would take another ten years (in which she followed dance and singing lessons) before a first mini-LP was released called ‘Vuela una noche’ (1984). The release passed almost unnoticed and it would take until 1992 before a first serious release hit the shops. ‘De ley’ turned out to be an immediate success with it’s fusion of tradition with funk and rock, selling over 300.000 copies in Spain alone. Singles ‘Mi gato’ and ‘Sabor sabor’ became hits. The follow up album ‘Siento’ was almost entirely written by her brother Antonio. In 1995 her mother Lola died of breast cancer at the age of 72.

On her funeral Rosario sung her song ‘La Zarzamora’. Shortly after her death Antonio committed suicide by overdosing with barbiturate and was buried next to his mother. This made Rosario’s 1996 ‘Mucho por vivir’ a sombre album about the two heavy personal losses. The 1999 album ‘Jugar a la locura’ was a more rock influenced album but in November of that year ill fate struck again when her father died (73 years old). Being, together with her sister Lolita, the last of the Flores her 2001 album was tastefully called ‘Muchas flores’. In remembrance of her father it was a tribute to the Rumba Catalana. She would receive a Latin Grammy for it. In effect she undertook a extensive tour through Latin America. Although her popularity in those countries grew in the years to follow in homeland Spain she slowly lost the attention of the public. Her 2003 and 2006 albums sold reasonable but only reached gold status. In 2003 Rosaria also starred in the Almodovar movie ‘Hable con Ella’ as the bull fighter. Already having a daughter, Lola, from a previous marriage to Carlos Orellana Rosaria returned home to give birth to her son Pedro Antonio in 2006 from her marriage with Pedro Lazaga. Her 2008 album ‘Parte de mi’ meant a return to old form and to the Spanish market. In the same year she also launched her own perfume ‘Siento’. In 2009 followed he album ‘Cuéntame’ based on, and featuring songs from, the popular TV series with the same name. In 2011 she finally returns with a collection of new self-penned songs. On 'Raskatriski' she brings an ode to Catelan Rhumba and Gypsy funk.

On the web:

- Rosario only has a fan-website: http://www.fansrosarioflores.es/

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What do we think:

DB: Rosario is one of those artist that apparently never crossed over to the non-Spanish speaking market. The why is unclear since her music has much to offer. It’s an intelligent pure blend of pop, rock, catelan rumba and traditional folk. With a good voice to boot. My guess is that Rosario actually doesn’t care since her status on the Latin market is secured. Still, if you want to expand your knowledge of Spanish pop she is worth seeking out.

Recommended albums:

♪♪♪♪ - De ley - 1992

♪♪♪ - Siento – 1994

- Mucho por vivir – 1996

- Jugar a la locura - 1999

- Muchas flores - 2001

♪♪♪♪ - De mil colores - 2003

- Contigo me voy - 2006

- Parte de mí - 2008

♪♪♪ - Cuéntame - 2009

♪♪♪ - Raskatriski - 2011

 

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♪♪♪♪♪= outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided