Flamenco singer Alfonso Paredes ‘Niño Alfonso’, one of the leading supporters of the iconic International Festival of Cante de las Mina, died on June 7, 2021. He was one of the most beloved Flamenco artists from La Unión in southeastern Spain. He received the prestigious Honorary Lámpara Minera award in 2016.

Alfonso Paredes was born on April 28, 1934 in La Unión (Murcia, Spain). Son and grandson of a miner, he was one of the singers who recovered the canciones de las minas (miner songs) since the age of 6 after he came into contact with professional guitarist Vicente Vera. During his youth, Paredes obtained important awards in different competitions in the region of Murcia, standing out for his extensive Flamenco repertoire in malagueñas, granainas and fandangos that he performed with a very personal style.