Francisco Gustavo Sánchez Gómez (21 December 1947 – 25 February 2014), known as Paco de Lucía, was a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist, composer, and record producer.
“Sometimes I see the guitar and I see the devil,” he has said to explain his love-hate relationship with the instrument that has sentenced him to work incessantly to defy his own boundaries. De Lucia, the most important figure in contemporary flamenco and winner of the 2004 Prince of Asturias Award, is revered by guitarists and music lovers worldwide. His hands have liberated notes in countless musical genres besides flamenco, which he revolutionized. He has been touring the United States since the age of 12, and at the age of 64 is still doubting his own greatness.
“One can never be objective when talking about one’s self,” he says, as the cheeping of a tropical bird interrupts the conversation. “What I’m always aware of in my mind are my defects, my virtues are something I take for granted. That’s how my father raised me.”
“I’ve suffered a lot in the guitar,” he says, “but when I’ve had a good time, the joy has been at the same level of the most intense agony. In a way, it makes sense that to be very happy you have to be very unfortunate. The greater the agony, the greater capacity for joy.”
During the 1960´s Paco became friends with Camarón de la Isla, considered to be one of the best Flamenco singers in history. They met in tablao flamenco “Torres Bermejas” in Madrid, one of the most important flamenco venues in the capital and in the whole Spain, also called “The Cathedral of Flamenco”. Together they recorded 10 albums and travelled around the stages all over the world (Paris, Tokyo, New York, Berlin, etc.).
Paco de Lucia: The Journey
Sources:
- https://ogotours.com/paco-de-lucia/
- https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-xpm-2012-04-05-mc-music-paco-de-lucia-20120405-story.html
- https://www.guitarsalon.com/blog/recording-artist-paco-de-lucia/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgIkZBq2SMA