Monday 26 October 2020

 

 IN MEMORIAM: JOSÉ PADILLA (1955-2020)


José Padilla (born in Gerona) was raised in a large family of farmers from Cádiz (a city in the south). He was guilty of making to feel immortal who lived the best nights at Cafe Del Mar in Ibiza late 90s. He is the memorie-maker of those summer sunsets in the Island! The people still remember amazing vibes in Sant Antoni de Portmany which is one of the most popular Ibiza beaches nowadays. A whole new generation have been trying to roll back that "soggy emotion" of his closing sunsets unsuccessfully.


Now, we can listen all his mixes on YouTube, BBC Radio 1 and Soundcloud, then have an idea of "what it was". When he first published Café Del Mar series back to 1994 nobody couldn't think what a legend he is today. He's THE MAN who has been leading a musical movement on the Island for over 30 years.. 

He invented chill-out sessions full of calmly vibes. He is a peacemaker indeed. 22 years ago he released his first self-titled album: Souvenir (1998), which has been followed by other successfull one as Navigator (2001). Fortunately, he was a guy down to Earth. José he was never seduced by other musical streams (trance, tech house, EDM). He was not a fashion victim and we all know it. Personally I never had the opportunity of seeing him live but I know "that" feeling because I was in the White Island a couple of times. 

Maybe José Padilla is dead, but his music will never leave Ibiza. At the age of 59 he quit Deejaying due to some healthy problems. Staying away from the decks since 2015 was a shock new flying around the world. His retirement was not trivial. Thanks to all the prayers in the world he stepped out from the colorectal cancer then. And now (one week ago) we knew that it was not like this all this time. This is his last ever live set since then and forever:


At the age of 59 he turned out Deejaying due to some healthy problems. This documentary is reflected. Next time you raise your head to the horizon and see a sunset wherever you are the music of Padilla will be sounding, just because his music is the soundtrack of the mornings into nights. Dawn and sunsets together mate.

God bless you José Padilla