“El Cigala” is the nickname given by Camaron de La Isla to Diego Jimenez Salazar. Cigala is a gipsy singer-songwriter born in Madrid in 1968 and nephew of Rafael Farina. Since his childhood he has been singing in his Madrid neighbourhood of “El Rastro”, later doing the same in the “Peñas”, and at the age of 12 he won a prize in the Gente Joven (Young People) competition and first prize in the Flamenco Joven (Young Flamenco) competition in Getafe.

He has accompanied such famous dancers as Cristóbal Reyes, Mario Maya, Manolete, Carmen Cortés, Güito, Farruco and Manuel Camacho. He has performed on records by Camarón, Paco Peña, Gerardo Núñez, Tomatito, and has worked with renowned musicians of the likes of Jorge Pardo, Carlos Benavent and Michel Camilo, to name but a few.

 He has travelled the world over, visiting Iraq, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, United States and more. In 1994, he embarked on his solo career accompanied by the guitarist Antón Jiménez and was chosen by the public of the Sala Revólver concert venue in Madrid as Best New Artist of the year. In 1995, he shared the billing with Morente, Mercé and Parrita. In May of that year he released “Undebel” with the participation of David Amaya, Paquete, Parrita, J.M. Cortina, Bandolero, Chaboli and El Piraña. With “Undebel”, Dieguito El Cigala burst onto the record scene.