There is
still a bar in Calasparra named after one of the town´s most famous sons, El Mejorano,
who died 50 years ago.
The fiftieth anniversary of the death of Juan López Álvarez, better known as Juanito
“El Mejorano”, who died suddenly at just 40 years old in 1969, fell on January
15.
Born in Calasparra in 1928, he was conscripted into national service in
Valencia where he entered a competition on national radio and hit the big time.
He went on to create his own company that toured Spain, Portugal the north of
Africa, France and America.
Considered one of the great singers of his time he recorded numerous records
with labels such as Columbia and Belter. His last recordings were made
in Barcelona but sadly he died before they could be published.
He is buried in Calasparra
where there is a street as well as the Bar Mejorano Crillas, named in his
memory.
