Known artistically as Jose Merce, born on April 19, 1955 in Jerez de la Frontera. Member of a dynasty of gypsy singers, great-grandson of Paco de la Luz. As a child he sang on the steps of the Basilica of Merce in Jerez, from where Antonio Gallardo gives him his stage name. For six months, he worked at 'El Tablao', in Cádiz, on Santa María de la Cabeza street. In 1968 he went to Madrid to live with his uncle El Sordera. 

There he recorded his first album, accompanied on guitar by Manolo Sanlucar and Paco de Lucia. He sang at the Torres Bermejas tablao with Mario Maya, Carmen Mora and Guito. Later, until 1983, he worked for Antonio Gades ' company . During this period, he participated in the films Bodas de sangre and Flamenco , by Carlos Saura . After a few years away from the stage due to the death of one of his sons, he returned to the scene with the album Del amanecer, produced by Vicente Amigo . His performance at the Teatro Real , being the first gypsy to perform there, represented an important step forward in his career, becoming the best-known flamenco singer by the general public.