Carmen Linares

One of Spain's great contemporary flamenco singers, Carmen Linares may not have had a flamenco pedigree but she had the pipes to seduce the country. Linares didn't come from a long line of musicians -- which is rare in the flamenco world -- but over the course of four decades, the singer has proven her skills as an interpreter and innovator. She began singing as a child, and as a young adult in the 1960s she graced the dance companies of both Carmen Mora and Paco Romero. In 1970, she released her debut album and found herself soon sharing the stage with other leading lights of the era, such as the great Camaron de la Isla. Over the years she's taken the stage not just as a solo performer but also as part of Cafe de Chinitas with Enrique Morente, Carmen Mora, Manzanita and Tomas de Madrid. She's also taken part in many plays and zarzuelas, thanks to her comfort as a dramatic performer.