Juan Carmona Habichuela

Juan Carmona Habichuela, born Juan Carmona Carmona in 1933, was a Spanish flamenco guitarist who died in Madrid on 30 June 2016. He came from a flamenco dynasty tracing back to his grandfather, known as "Old Habichuela," and carried forward by his father and brothers Pepe, Carlos, and Luis. Carmona Habichuela began his artistic life as a dancer before turning to the guitar, which he learned from his father and from a Granada-based guitarist known as Ovejilla.

Early in his career, Carmona Habichuela relocated to Madrid, where he performed in flamenco shows known as tablaos flamencos, accompanying dancer Mario Maya. He went on to work alongside some of the most prominent flamenco singers of his era, including Manolo Caracol, Juan Valderrama, Fosforito, and Enrique Morente. His recorded accompaniments, collected on the double-disc compilation Habas contadas, document 25 flamenco forms recorded between 1962 and 2007, featuring singers such as Manolo Caracol, Chano Lobato, Rancapino, and Jose Merce.

In 1966, Carmona Habichuela brought his artistry to Broadway, appearing in the production Manuela Vargas. His international recognition extended to the recording industry, where he received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Flamenco Album in 2000 and was honored with the Latin Grammy Trustees Award in 2012 for significant contributions to the field of recording.

Carmona Habichuela is the older brother of guitarist Pepe Habichuela and the father of Juan José Carmona and Antonio Carmona. Together with José Miguel Carmona Niño, son of Pepe Habichuela, his sons formed the musical group Ketama.