Joan Manuel Serrat

From Joan Manuel Serrat, we encounter an artist whose music is deeply nourished by words and roots. His work dialogues with the poetry of authors such as Mario Benedetti, Antonio Machado, Miguel Hernández, Federico García Lorca, Joan Salvat-Papasseit, and León Felipe, among others. This connection with literature intertwines with genres as diverse as Catalan folklore, Spanish copla, tango, bolero, and the rich tradition of Latin American popular song, having reinterpreted songs by Violeta Parra and Víctor Jara. Serrat is recognized as a key figure in the emergence of the Catalan Nova Cançó, a movement that defended the language and culture in difficult times. He is also affectionately known as El noi del Poble-sec, after his native neighborhood, or simply Nano. His career has been honored with multiple honoris causa doctorates and the prestigious Latin Grammy Person of the Year in 2014, in addition to the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise and the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts 2024, recognizing his deep Mediterranean connection, his defense of tolerance, the diversity of languages and cultures, and his longing for freedom.

Born in Barcelona on December 27, 1943, Serrat grew up in the Poble Sec neighborhood, in a working-class family environment. His childhood, marked by life in the streets of his neighborhood, left an indelible mark that is reflected in many of his compositions, portraying the daily life of Catalonia after the Civil War. At the age of twelve, he began his studies as a boarder at the Universidad Laboral de Tarragona, specializing in "Industrial Mining." During the summers of his adolescence, he developed strong ties with Viana, Navarra, a place to which he feels deeply connected and where he even has gardens named after him. Parallel to his technical studies, which culminated in his graduation as an agricultural expert in 1965, Serrat cultivated his passion for the guitar autodidactically. It was during that time that he appeared on Radio Barcelona's Radioscope program, performing his early creations, which opened the door to his first professional opportunity and the recording of his debut album, first presented at the L'Avenç theater in Esplugues de Llobregat.