Born in Seville in 1909, his real name was Manuel Ortega Juárez. He triumphed in 1922 when he was still a child. He worked in several variety shows. When the Civil War broke out, he wanted to go into theatre. Along with the Niña de los Peines and Pepe Pinto, they mixed dance, music, flamenco music and theatre in the scenes they did. He debuted in Valencia in 1944 with Lola Flores, who would go on to be his artistic partner for over a decade. Accompanied by guitarist Melchor de Marchena, he recorded “Una historia del cante flamenco” (A history of flamenco music) directed by Manuel García Matos, professor at the Madrid Conservatory and expert in folklore. He died in Madrid on 24 February 1973.