Pau Dones

Pau Donés was a Spanish singer and composer who was the leader of the band Jarabe de Palo. He was born in Montanuy, a small village in the Pyrenees, and grew up in Barcelona. He started playing guitar when he was 12 years old, and formed his first band with his brother Marc. He worked as an advertising agent and studied economics, but his passion was music. He formed Jarabe de Palo in 1996, and their first album, La Flaca, was a huge success in Spain and Latin America. He continued to release albums with the band, mixing rock, pop, and Latin rhythms, and collaborating with artists such as Joaquín Sabina, Ana Belén, and Ricky Martin. Some of his most famous songs are La Flaca, Depende, Bonito, and Agua. He also wrote songs for other singers, such as Alejandro Sanz and Celia Cruz. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2015, and underwent several treatments and surgeries. He announced his recovery in 2016, but had a relapse in 2017. He did not stop making music, and published a book and an album called 50 palos, to celebrate his 50th birthday. He also founded his own record label, Tronco Records, and released his last album, Tragas o escupes, in May 2020. He died in June 2020, at his home in Bagergue, surrounded by his family and friends. He was 53 years old. He was known for his positive attitude, his love for life, and his generosity. He donated part of his earnings to social causes, such as cancer research and children's education. He was awarded the Gold Medal of Merit in Fine Arts in 2020, posthumously.