Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar (born 27 December 1968 in Madrid), known as El Cigala (Castillan for 'Langoustine'), is a Spanish Romani Flamenco singer. He also holds Dominican citizenship. He is nephew of singers Rafael Farina and Rafael Salazar Motos and first cousin once removed of pop-singer Tamara.
Biography
Born into a family of Romani artists and intellectuals in Madrid, Jiménez started his career singing in flamenco clubs, until he caught the attention of flamenco dancers such as Mario Maya and Joaquín Cortés, and with guitarist Antón Jiménez, began touring as part of their companies. By the late 1990s, after collaborating on recordings by Camarón de la Isla, Tomatito, Gerardo Núñez and Vicente Amigo, he recorded his debut album "Undebel". He has since recorded a further seven albums, and has won two Grammy awards and five Latin Grammy nominations.
In 2010, he voiced Buzz Lightyear (when in "Spanish mode") for the European Spanish dub of Toy Story 3, using an Andalusian accent.
His wife, Amparo Fernández, died in 2015 from cancer in Punta Cana.Yahoo
In 2024, he was convicted and sentenced to more than two years in prison. He was found guilty of all charges related to his domestic abuse against flamenco singer Dolores "Kina" Mendez, which has been reported in media and newspapers including Billboard, El País, El Mundo and El Diario de Jerez.
Discography 1998 – Undebel 2000 – Entre vareta y Canasta 2001 – Corren tiempos de alegría 2002 – Teatro Real (Live album) 2003 – Lágrimas negras 2003 – Blanco y Negro en vivo (Bebo & Cigala) (Live album) 2005 – Picasso en mis ojos 2008 – Dos lágrimas 2010 – Cigala & Tango (Live album) 2013 – Romance de la luna Tucumana 2013 – Vuelve el flamenco (Live album) 2016 – Indestructible 2020 – Cigala canta a México
References
External links
Diego el Cigala biography and discography Flamenco Forum