Paco de Lucia

Paco de Lucía was a Spanish flamenco guitarist, composer, and record producer who revolutionized the flamenco genre by incorporating elements from classical, jazz, Latin, and other musical styles. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time and one of the most influential figures in flamenco history. He was born as Francisco Sánchez Gómez in Algeciras, Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain on 21 December 1947. He was the youngest of five children of a flamenco guitarist father and a Portuguese mother. He adopted the stage name Paco de Lucía in honor of his mother. He began playing the guitar at the age of five, learning from his father and his elder brother Ramón. He made his public debut on Radio Algeciras at the age of 11 and won a special prize at a flamenco festival in Jerez de la Frontera at the age of 12. He rose to fame in the 1960s as a soloist and as a member of the flamenco duo Los Chiquitos de Algeciras with his brother Pepe. He also collaborated with the legendary flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla, recording ten albums that are considered classics of flamenco. He expanded his musical horizons by working with international artists such as John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell, Chick Corea, Carlos Santana, and Bryan Adams. He formed the Paco de Lucía Sextet in 1981 with his brothers Pepe and Ramón and three other musicians, creating a fusion of flamenco, jazz, salsa, and Brazilian music. He was a prolific composer and performer who recorded more than 30 albums and toured extensively around the world. He received numerous awards and honors for his artistic achievements, including the Prince of Asturias Award for Arts in 2004 and several Latin Grammy Awards. He also composed music for films such as Carmen (1983), The Hit (1984), and Vengo (2000). He died of a heart attack on 25 February 2014 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico while playing with his children on the beach. He was 66 years old. His remains were buried at the Cementerio Viejo in his hometown Algeciras. He is survived by his second wife Gabriela Carrasco and his five children from his first marriage to Casilda Varela. Paco de Lucía left a lasting legacy as a flamenco innovator and a guitar virtuoso who inspired generations of musicians and fans. He is widely regarded as the master of the new flamenco style and one of the best ambassadors of Spanish culture in the world.