Some sad news this morning. Reports are coming in that Paco de Lucía has died this morning in Cancun Mexico of a heart attack. He was apparently running and playing with his children on the beach when he collapsed. He was only 66 years old. We seem to be announcing the loss of music’s great pioneers on a weekly basis these days. Something I don’t think we will ever get used too.
Paco de Lucía was born in Algecras, Spain and began playing classical and flamenco guitar at age five. Like all virtuosos he learned quickly, and became obsessed with the development of his technique.
In a 1994 interview with Hank Bordowitz, Paco describes: “My father and all my brothers played guitar, so before I picked it up, before I could speak, I was listening. Before I started to play, I knew every rhythm of the flamenco. I knew the feeling and the meaning of the music, so when I started to play, I went directly to the sound I had in my ear.”
He eventually became a champion of the New Flamenco style, which lost him favour with some Flamenco purists. He crossed over into other genres of music such as classical and jazz, and announced that he was semi-retiring in 2004.
Winner of the Prince of Asturias Award, his personal technique is characterized by a clean virtuosity and a powerful sound that has made him a favourite of flamenco lovers everywhere. A tragic loss.
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