Biography

Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar (born Madrid, 27 December 1968), known as El Cigala (Castillan for 'Langoustine'), is a Romani Flamenco gypsy singer. He also holds Dominican citizenship.

Born into a family of Romani artists and intellectuals in Madrid, Jiménez started his career singing in flamenco clubs, until he caught the attention of flamenco dancers such as Mario Maya and Joaquín Cortés, and with guitarist Antón Jiménez, began touring as part of their companies. By the late 1990s, after collaborating on recordings by Camarón de la Isla, Tomatito, Gerardo Núñez and Vicente Amigo, he recorded his debut album "Undebel". He has since recorded a further seven albums, and has won two Grammy awards and five Latin Grammy nominations.In 2010, he voiced Buzz Lightyear for the European Spanish dub of Toy Story 3, using an Andalusian accent.His wife, Amparo Fernández, died in 2015 from cancer in Punta Cana.