Prince of Asturias Awards
Arts 2004
Paco de Lucía is considered to be one of the most universally famous Flamenco artists; his style has become a school of music amongst the younger generations, his art has made him one of the greatest ambassadors of Spanish culture worldwide and his masterly touch has graced the major stages of Europe, the USA, Russia, Japan and the Middle East.
Francisco Sánchez Gómez, known as Paco de Lucia, born in 1947 in Algeciras (Cádiz). He started playing guitar at the age of seven and at just fourteen recorded his first album alongside his brother Pepe, in the duo Los Chiquitos de Algeciras. In 1963 he toured abroad with Jose Greco’ company, recording his first solo album, “The Fabulous Guitar of Paco de Lucia”, the following year. However, it was Camarón de la Isla with whom he would form one of the 20th century’s most important duos. Paco de Lucía has revolutionized Flamenco guitar playing and accompaniment by bringing novel chords and rhythmic counterpoint to his musical expression. His creative genius and mastery of the instrument has led to Flamenco entering into a dialogue with the classical music of Falla, Rodrigo and Albéniz, with the bossa nova and jazz of Chick Corea and John McLaughlan, among other styles. His “Friday Night in San Francisco” album sold over a million copies, a figure that was undreamt-of for a Flamenco artist. He formed his famous Sextet in 1981, thereby creating the modern-day concept of the Flamenco group. His numerous recording projects include “Flamenco Fantasy” (1969), “Guitar Recital” (1971), “El duende flamenco de Paco de Lucía” (1972), “Fuente y caudal” (1973), “Almoraima” (1976), “Solo quiero caminar” (1981), “Paco de Lucia in Moscow” (1986) and “Luzia” (1998), among others. He has also composed and performed music for films like “La Sabina”, “The Hit”, “Carmen”, “Montoyas y Tarantos” and “Sevillanas”. After five years of silence as a composer, in 2004 he presented “Cositas buenas”, a work acclaimed by critics as a “masterpiece”. Four books have been published on his life and work, one written by Paco de Lucia himself.
He has received many awards including the National Prize for Flamenco Guitar, the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts (1992) and an Honorary Distinction from the Music Awards (2002). He holds honorary doctorates from both the University of Cádiz and Berklee College of Music, Boston.
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