History Pena Fosforitobased at the Taberna de las Beatillas de San Agustín, is celebrating. Until the end of the year, it maintains a special program with live shows, lectures and other activities to commemorate its 40 years of history.
Four decades in which it has become a fulcrum of Cordovan flamenco, capable of always keeping the name of a legendary singer like Antonio Fernández Díaz “Fosforito” present in the city and giving visibility to several generations of young people. flamenco artists.
“We have achieved something that no one has achieved: maintaining an average of 12 to 16 annual events for 40 uninterrupted years, not counting the five festivals we have organized in tribute to great artists like Fosforito himself, Paco de Lucia, Concha Calero either Cordoba meringue», Explains its president, José Gregorio Ramírez.
The origin of the peña dates back to Cordoba in the 1980s, in a Spain marked by the new democratic spirit and in which flamenco was gaining importance and leaving clichés and prejudices behind. It was in the spring of 1984 that a little more than fifty fans decided to found it with a first activity which consisted of an exaltation of arrow inside Friendship circle.
“We were people from very diverse backgrounds and professions,” recalls Ramírez of this founding group, in which there were goldsmiths, industrialists, traders and, in general, amateurs of varied profiles, although ‘united by “the love we felt for flamenco”.
After having established themselves for several years in various establishments in the Jewish quarter, such as La Fragua, on rue del Arco, in 1989 they reached an agreement to establish their headquarters in The Beatillasthus changing one of the towns that were beginning to revitalize, such as Axerquía. Since then, they have had their refuge there, a corner where they sing, play and dance every week for the pleasure of dozens of people. amateurs let them gather there.
three presidents
José Gregorio Ramírez became president in February of the same year 1989. His predecessors were José Arrebola and José Fernández, so that Peña Fosforito has only had three top leaders in its 40-year history.
A key decision was that, since that year, entry of women in the club, which broadened the spectrum of fans and made it easier for families to find their way there to enjoy the shows and the flamenco atmosphere. Today they remain with 67 partners and work in the direction always necessary relief generational with the entry of young people who follow the path.
La Peña’s milestones throughout these years are numerous. Their weekend performances are perhaps best known for their consistency, but they have also been involved in city life for years. For example, with its fair standboth over the years at the Paseo de la Victoria exhibition center and over the years at El Arenal.
Dance at the Peña Flamenca Fosforito
Or with the floats they set up for different pilgrimages. They were also careful when delivering the various distinctions that they promote, so that they do not lose value as has often happened in other groups.
The Mezquita del Cante, which is its highest distinction, includes only Maestro Fosforito, The Pele and guitarist José Antonio Rodríguez. And their gold badges depict key flamenco figures like Paco de Luciegreat supporters like Dr. Manuel Concha and very important institutions in Córdoba in those years like the Córdoba Football Club (which was rewarded for its promotion to the First Division) or the Guzman El Bueno Brigade (distinguished for her work in peace missions in Lebanon).
The story of Peña Fosforito is preserved in the dozens of photographs that the president lovingly collects. Very moving images of the celebrations in homage to Fosforito himself, to Concha y Merengue or to Paco de Lucía. “At the Palace of Alegre View We welcomed almost 3,000 people there,” recalls Ramírez.
A performance at the Vista Alegre Palace in front of more than 3,000 people was one of the most notable events in its history.
Or snapshots from the time when, in the 80s, still based at La Fragua de la Judería, they organized a flamenco gathering led by the flamencologist Agustín Gómez. The list of artists who appear in this photo album is long and brilliant, with names – beyond the many already mentioned – such as Juanito ValderramaJosé Mercé, José Menese, LebrijanoCourro de Utrera, Chano Lobato or Juan Muñoz ‘El Tomate’, among others.
The activity continues and now the 40th anniversary cycle resumes with a series of concerts that will lead to December 20, when you can enjoy a Zambomba flamenco from Jerez with the presence of maestro Fosforito as the final highlight.
This same weekend we will be able to enjoy the voice of Itoli de los Palacios and the guitar of Manolo Herrera, while on November 8 Fina de los Ángeles and Francisco Hurtado will perform. Other cantaoras who will pass through Fosforito before the end of the year are Carmen Carmona, Belén Vega or Laura Marchal. They will continue to shine and build the history of this flamenco club which, after forty years of activitiesis an integral part of the cultural life of the city.
