Antonio Santiago “Ñoño”

Born in Sevilla in 1986, son of singer Enrique El Extremeño. He takes his first steps on the guitar from his father’s hand, with whom begins in the first chords and rhythms. Starts studying the technique of guitar and chords. His father sings the

cantes and explain the ins and outs of each song. Born and raised in a cradle of artists.

Antonio begins to forge and develop himself as a guitarist while working at private parties and starting to collaborate on his father’s shows and on flamenco venues, accompanying him as a second guitar.

Later, at age 15, he wants to improve himself as a guitarist and begins another stage by entering the Fundación de Cristina Heeren where he studies his technique, accompaniment to singing and dancing, by artists such as Miguel Ángel Cortés, Eduardo Rebollar, Pedro Sierra , José de la Tomasa and Manuel Soler, among other.

The second year begins as a monitor at the Cristina Heeren Foundation, where he teaches at the initial guitar levels, replacing guitarists such as Manolo Franco and Miguel Ángel Cortés.

Later he starts a tour with the Junta de Andalucía, where he will perform at a private party for the president of Costa Rica and the first lady of that country, along with artists such as Sebastián Cruz, Gabriel de la Tomasa, among others.

In 2002, he made another tour representing Spain at the International Book Fair in Mexico D.F. chaired by Prince Philip.

At 18, he makes his first tour of Japan with artists such as Manuela Carrasco and Juana Amaya, and accompanies artists such as La Moneta, Pepe Torres, Daniel Navarro, Mara Martínez, Oscar de los Reyes, Rafael del Carmen among others. He tours in Japan annually until 2014, that ends with a great tour of the north and south of the country with the company of Farruquito, Alfonso Losa and Juan de Juan.

In 2008 he was awarded the first prize of the Utrera flamenco professorship in the solo guitar modality.

Later he is requested by the most important flamenco tablaos: in Seville, tablao Los Gallos and El Arenal; in Madrid, tablao Las Carboneras, El Corral de La Morería, Casa Patas, and Villa Rosa; in Barcelona, ​​Los Tarantos and El Cordobés, of which he has been assiduous in recent years. In them he has coincided with artists such as Karime Amaya, El Farru and Pastora Galván, among others.

Throughout his career he has accompanied singers like Juan José Amador, La Tana, José Valencia, Nano de Jerez, the Montoya family, Cañeta de Málaga, Joselito Méndez and Chiquetete.

He has accompanied the dance to artists such as Antonio Canales, Manuela Carrasco, Juan Juan, Jesús Carmona, Pepe Torres, Marco Flores, Juana Amaya, el Carpeta, Mercedes de Córdoba, Pedro Córdoba, Alfonso Losa and El Farru.

Companies in which he has worked: Manuela Carrasco, Antonio Canales, Jesús

Carmona, Farruquito, Juana Amaya or Pepe Torres.

He is currently participating in the show “Reencuentro” by Antonio Canales and Manuela Carrasco, premiered at the On Fire festival in Pamplona in 2016.

 

Antonio Santiago “Ñoño” Interview

 

«If I had to highlight something about my career, I would highlight the first time I accompanied Manuela Carrasco, that I was about 20 or 22 years old and it was in Japan. And, when I saw that goddess go out by soleá between boxes, the truth is that it was a sensation that I will never forget. Magical and apart from magical, the truth is that I was in awe of what I was seeing, I was freaking out of what I was living and I could hardly play that song. But it was an incredible feeling. And a privilege, too.

»For me, working on the tablao means a lot, to tell you the truth, because I think that the tablao is where we learn, we continue to learn every day by interacting with a partner, working with one or the other. And we develop above all our concerns, we try things. Today, training in tablao is indispensable, you have to always go there ».