Javier Krahe is one of the most enigmatic singer/songwriters in the Spanish scene. Armed with a biting irony and a deep love of Georges Brassens and Leonard Cohen, Krahe has led a career apart from mainstream channels and has developed a loyal cult following in the process. Born in Madrid in 1944, Krahe started business studies, which he left unfinished. In 1967 he settled in Paris, where he wrote his first lyrics with the aid of his brother Jorge. In 1989, back in Spain, the singer released his first work, Valle de Lágrimas, featuring his characteristically scathing sense of humor and simple arrangements deeply inspired by Brassens. After his debut, a string of records were released with little or no label backing. Krahe's onslaughts against Spain's governing party and the figure of Christ on television did not contribute to his ability to reach wider audiences, either. In 2004, some of his friends gathered up to record a tribute album titled Y Todo Es Vanidad, including such figures as Enrique Morente, Alejandro Sanz, Joan Manuel Serrat, and Joaquín Sabina. Cinturón Negro de Karaoke came out in 2006. ~ Efrén del Valle Peñamil