Chiquito de la Calzada

Chiquito was born as Gregorio Sánchez Fernández in Málaga en 1932, starting to job as dancer at 8 years old in several flamenco venues with important singers of the time, working in the chorus line along several decades. He was nicknamed as Chiquito ("little boy") by the early age that he started to work, fulfilling after he born in the street of Calzada de la Trinidad in the neighborhood of La Trinidad, hence his artistic name as Chiquito de la Calzada. His reputation as flamenco dancer caused that Chiquito moved along Spain acting in several theaters, and even he lived two years in Japan in the middle 80's, where he traveled to teach dance flamenco to the Japanese. In 1950 he married Josefa "Pepita" García Gómez, who was his long-time love. In the early 90's, with 62 years old and after 54 years as flamenco dancer, Chiquito was discovered by the great audience appearing in the TV show Genio y figura (1994), a contest with a brand new stand up comedians where he excelled by his particular and special sense of humor. His surrealistic way to tell a joke caused an incredible quick fame along the country due to words and expressions what eventually were turned in language of popular culture, being one of the most famous and dearest humorists in the 90's in Spain. After the cancellation of the TV-show the next year, he continued appearing in different movies and other TV shows throughout the years, using the same style in his performances. With time Chiquito would be recognized as one of the greatest humorists of all time, winning love and affection of all Spanish. He retired from the scene in 2012 after the pass away of Pepita, missing from the public eye and making very little appearances or interviews. He died on November 11, 2017 in the hospital of Málaga by heart complications after a fall happened in his home, caused by an angina pectoris. He was incinerated, at the same that Pepita, and their ashes rest together in the columbarium of the Saint Paul's church of Malaga.