Spanish Musician Ramoncín, 70, Talks About His Childhood
Listen to the story
The Spanish musician Ramoncín, who is now 70 years old, has spoken openly about his difficult childhood in a recent interview.
He explained that his mother was single and had to hide her pregnancy because of the social rules of the time.
According to Ramoncín, he was born inside a taxi near the Puerta de Alcalá, a well-known monument in Madrid.
Because his mother could not take care of him, she gave him up and he was raised by another family.
Ramoncín has said this decision was actually the biggest favor his mother could have done for him.
He described the family who raised him as wonderful, and said he feels grateful for the life he had with them.
Even though his mother abandoned him as a baby, Ramoncín does not seem to feel bitter about it.
Instead, he sees his early life as an unusual and interesting story worth telling, one that began even before he was born.
His comments highlight how much attitudes toward single mothers and unplanned pregnancies have changed in Spain over the decades.
Ramoncín's story has attracted attention because it mixes a difficult beginning with a positive outcome later in life.
Vocabulary10 words
- interview
- a talk where someone answers questions
- hide
- keep something secret
- pregnancy
- the time before a baby is born
- gave him up
- let another family take care of a child
- favor
- a kind act that helps someone
- wonderful
- very good
- abandoned
- left alone without help
- grateful
- feeling thankful
- single mother
- a woman raising a child without a partner
- monument
- a famous old structure people visit
Quiz
Answer key
1. Because of social rules at the time 2. In a taxi near the Puerta de Alcalá 3. As the biggest favor she could do
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Spanish musician Ramoncín, who is now 70 years old, has spoken openly about his difficult _____ in a recent interview.
He explained that his mother was single and had to hide her _____ because of the social rules of the time.
According to Ramoncín, he was born inside a _____ near the Puerta de Alcalá, a well-known monument in Madrid.
Because his mother could not take care of him, she gave him up and he was _____ by another family.
Ramoncín has said this decision was actually the biggest _____ his mother could have done for him.
He described the family who raised him as _____, and said he feels grateful for the life he had with them.
Even though his mother _____ him as a baby, Ramoncín does not seem to feel bitter about it.
His comments highlight how much attitudes toward _____ mothers have changed in Spain over the decades.