The Riojan singer-songwriter, Chema Purón (Logroño, 1951), will offer two acoustic concerts next Sunday, July 13, at the Monastery of Cañas and at the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
The first one will take place at the Monastery of Cañas, at 7:00 p.m., and is, «without a doubt, the highlight of the musical lineup of the ‘Legacy of Light’ program, with which we are celebrating the 800th anniversary of the election of Blessed María Urraca as abbess of the Monastery,» as explained by Francisco José Suárez, abbot of the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada and in charge of the museistic management of the Abbey of Cañas.
«You cannot imagine how excited I am to be able to contribute with my songs and my music to this celebration,» Chema Purón assured in a message sent for his performance in Cañas. «I hope it will be an unforgettable concert because the setting is unique and incomparable. I’ll be waiting for all of you there.»
«Chema Purón is an internationally renowned artist,» Suárez explains. «An artist much loved by the audience and with a strong connection to the Nájera region, to whom we must thank for the enthusiasm with which he joined this project from the beginning, and for that, we want to express our gratitude. As Chema Purón says, these will be unforgettable concerts.»
Regarding the price to attend this first concert, Suárez specified that «the only thing to pay is the entrance to the monastery, which amounts to five euros. In other words, the visit to the monument includes access to the concert.»
Additionally, if anyone wants to take a special one-hour guided tour, the price is ten euros, and the tour takes place one hour before the concert, at 6:00 p.m.
Those who wish to reserve tickets can do so at the email address entradas@monasteriodecanas.org or in person thirty minutes before the start of each concert.
The second concert will take place at 9:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. In this case, the entrance fee is seven euros and can be purchased directly there before the recital begins.
JOSÉ MARÍA PURÓN
José María Purón, known as Chema Purón, was born in Logroño on March 24, 1951. His musical vocation became evident since childhood. At the age of 14, along with his classmate Miguel García Gil, he formed the Dúo Fender, participating in numerous festivals. Later, he was part of the Riojan group Los Yankos, with whom he toured La Rioja and neighboring provinces.
At the age of twenty, he moved to Madrid to study Advertising and Law. There, he began writing his first songs. His first job was in the Promotions Department of Discos Movieplay, but after some time, he decided to give up that position to try his luck in the professional music world.
In 1977, he released ‘Alma’, the first of the four albums he recorded as a singer-songwriter, which were released in Spain and various countries in Latin America. In 1978, he represented Spain at the OTI Festival held in Santiago de Chile, with the song ‘Mi sitio’.
From 1983 onwards, all his artistic activity focused on composing for other artists. He is one of the most prolific Spanish authors and composers, with over 800 creations to his name. Artists of the caliber of José Luis Rodríguez ‘El Puma’, Nana Mouskouri, Mocedades, Dyango, Paloma San Basilio, Francisco, Serafín Zubiri, Ednita Nazario, and many others have interpreted his songs.
Among original themes, adaptations, and versions of his songs, there are over 5,000 published songs bearing his signature.
His accolades include multiple wins in various festivals. First prize at the OTI on two occasions, first prize at the Viña del Mar Festival, and second prize at the Eurovision Song Contest. Awarded by the American Society of Authors (BMI), nominated for the Grammys, and holder of many gold and platinum records where his songs have been launch themes and have become enduring hits over time.
Concurrently, he has developed his activity as a music producer with both established artists and new talents, notably with Lucía Pérez, with whom he has resumed his artistic activity for years, offering countless concerts in Spain and various countries in Europe and Latin America.
In 2017, Chema Purón received the Arts Award of La Rioja, the highest recognition awarded by the regional Government in this field, highlighting «his professional career for which he is recognized nationally and internationally beyond music, and his generosity and social aspect, as he collaborates in charitable projects.»
