Miguel Vargas Jiménez, Bambino. Utrera (Sevilla), 1940-1999. Flamenco and Spanish pop singer.
Miguel Vargas Jiménez was born on February 12th, 1940 in the Seville town of Utrera. Son of Manuel Vargas Torres ‘Chamona’ and of Francisca Jiménez Ramírez ‘Frasquita’, the sister of singer Manuel de Angustias. Flamenco influences also reached him via his brother Diego Chamona, a festero singer. His artistic nickname was given to him after one of the first editions of the Potaje Gitano de Utrera where he sang ‘Bambino Piccolino’. Thanks to the bullfighter known as Gitanillo de Triana, he performed at tablaos such as Seville’s Real Venta de Antequera and Madrid’s El Duende. His own particular vision of festive flamenco, via rumba and bulerías, earned him the title Rey de la Rumba, [king of the rumba]. His repertoire included flamenco adaptations of popular verses, boleros and rancheras, with occasional songs borrowed from Machín and Gardel. Throughout the years of stardom Bambino sought out guitarists like Paco Cepero, Paco de Antequera, Juan Maya ‘Marote’, Habichuela, Paco del Gastor, Manolo Domínguez ‘El Rubio’ and an adolescent Paco de Lucía. The success of his festive formula influenced later groups such as Los Chunguitos, Las Grecas and Los Chichos. ‘La Pared’ (BMG, 1992), ‘The collection’ (BMG, 1995), ‘Resuscité’ (Senador, 1996) and ‘Éxitos’ (Senador, 1999) are some of the collections of the recorded work of the artist from Utrera. An illness that affected his throat forced him to stop performing in 1997. Miguel Vargas died in 1999 in his hometown, leaving an unmistakable legacy that neither Bernarda nor Fernanda de Utrera have ignored.