I was born in Torredelcampo, a small town in Jaén, on May 24th, 1916. Since I was a child, I loved music, especially flamenco and copla. Singing was my passion, and I worked hard to become a famous Spanish singer. Many people in Spain and other countries listened to my songs.

I was also an actor. I acted in six films. I liked acting because it was another way to express my feelings and my art.

My most famous song is “The Emigrant”. I recorded it in 1960. The song talks about people who had to leave Spain after the Civil War. They missed their country and felt very sad. This song gave them a voice and helped them feel less alone.

In my personal life, I fell in love with Dolores Abril, my partner on stage and in life. She was the love of my life. We had two children. One of them is Juan Antonio Valderrama, who also became a singer, like us.

I died on April 12th, 2004. But my music is still alive. Many people remember me and listen to my songs today.