The passion for the Cádiz Carnival ran in Jaime Fernández de la Puente's family. His uncle, José Hedrera ‘Zapatillo’, and his great-uncle, Paco Fernández de la Puente, a prominent figure in the choirs, marked his path. Despite initial family reluctance, Jaime followed in the footsteps of his great-uncle, who was ostracized for singing in Carnival, experiencing an emotional moment when he could finally do so publicly without hiding.
His journey began in 1981 as a chorus singer with the group Los Dedócratas, a choir that, despite having achieved four consecutive first prizes, experienced a decline. After a break due to the birth of his first child, he returned in 1987, laying the groundwork for the formation of a chirigota the following year: ‘55 días en Pasquín’, alongside Enrique Laínez and Rafael Muñoz Oliva.
The 1990s were prolific for his chirigota, with groups like ‘Los jupitajos’ (1989) and ‘Los colgates de remate’ (1990). In 1992, ‘Los bandolelos de ¡cierra morena’ que hace frío’ came close to the final, winning a ‘Cajonazo’ prize and standing out for its cuplés, one of them referencing a fall by King Juan Carlos. The peak arrived in 1993 with ‘Los puestos de h’lao’, which reached the final and a third prize, consolidating a "great family" atmosphere among its members.
Beyond his role as an author, Jaime Fernández de la Puente has been a staunch defender of carnival performers' rights. From his position as head of Intellectual Property in Cádiz, he has assisted numerous authors and performers in claiming their rights from organizations like SGAE and AIE, and has actively participated in negotiations to improve funding for groups through television rights.
His career also includes organizing the COAC, representing the Collective of Independent Authors (CAI) and presiding over the Association of Chirigotas. Born in Cádiz on December 13, 1959, his life has been intrinsically linked to the festival, from his studies to his retirement, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the Cádiz Carnival.
