[3][1][4][5] Farina was born in Martinamor, into a Romani family, his father, Antonio Salazar Motos, was a cattle dealer, in Alba de Tormes, Martinamor; his mother was Jesusa Motos.

He began his career at the age of six singing in the bars of Barrio Chino in Salamanca, accompanied by his older brother, Rafael Salazar Motos, Calderas de Salamanca, also a singer.

In 1952 he participated in the revival of the play "La copla andaluza" at the Pavón Theater in Madrid.

In 1956 he managed to premiere his own show and in 1968 he worked with Lola Flores at Arte Español.

[6][7] Farina starred in six Spanish and one Argentinian film:[8] Some of the best known songs popularized by Rafael Farina include: Rafael Farina died in Madrid on November 21, 1995, at the age of 72,[7] as a result of a myocardial infarction,[9] after undergoing an open heart surgery at the Nuestra Señora de América Clinic in Madrid.