José Padilla (1889-1960) was a Spanish composer and pianist, best known for light music, songs and stage pieces with strong popular appeal. Born in Almería, he built an international career in theatre, revue and film music.

His best-known works include La violetera, El relicario and Valencia, melodies that travelled widely through recordings, arrangements and popular performance. His music appears in the Pristine catalogue among light orchestral classics.

Padilla’s style is tuneful, vivid and immediately communicative, drawing on Spanish colour and theatrical flair. It belongs to the porous borderland between popular song, salon music and concert arrangement.

Though not a symphonic figure, Padilla had the gift of writing melodies that walked out of the theatre and kept going. His best tunes still carry perfume, rhythm and a bright stage smile.