Diego Ramon Jimenez Saszar , was born on the 27th of December 1968

 

Known as El Cigala which is Spanish for “Norway lobster” a popular crustacean in Spain. El Cigala is a famous Romani Flamenco Gypsy Singer. He has said that the nickname was actually given to him by three guitar player, Los Losada for him being very thin, and not by Camaron de la Isla as has been believed in the past.

 

Diego also holds Dominican citizenship, One of his greatest albums was recorded in 2003 and called “Lagrimas Negras” which was a collaboration with the then 85 year old Cuban pianist Bebo Valdes The Cuban rhythms and flamenco singing gracefully put together made this record an international success.

 

Diego was born into a family of  Romani artists and intellectuals in Madrid He started his singing in Flamenco enthusiasts clubs it was while he was singing in those clubs that he caught the attention of several world class music artists like Mario Maya, Faico Farruco, El Guito. Manuela Carrasco , Cristobel Reyes Carmen Cortes and Joaquin Cortes.

Diego then started to tour as part of their companies. By the late  nineties  he had collaborated on recording with Camaron Tomatito, Gerardo Nunez and Vicente Amigo and was now ready to launch his own solo career as a singer.

 

Since then he has recorded several CD, and has won 2 Grammy’s and 5 Latin Grammy nominations.

He was married to Amparo Fernadez  she died in 2015 from  cancer In Punta Cana.