The Art of Flamenco Guitar Paris Pliakas - The Art of Flamenco Guitar- joomag | Page 39

“Sabicas” (1913-1990)
Agustín Castellón Campus “Sabicas” was born in Pamplona and started playing
guitar at the age of eight.Before he was twenty he ranked amongst the greatest
Spanish guitarists accompanying all the legendary singers and dancers of that
time.On 1937 he toured America with the famous dancer Carmen Amaya and he
settled in Mexico first and in New York Later.He travelled to Spain for the first
time after 30 years in 1967 and demonstrated to the Spanish people what
flamenco guitar is like!!! Anyone then was trying to play what Sabicas had
created in his long absence abroad.It is really true that his traditional flamenco
style including new technique with virtuosity and clear sound made Sabicas the
most popular flamenco guitarist of all the times.
Manuel Cano (1926-1990)
Born in Granada Manuel Cano Tamayo was not only a notable flamenco
guitarist but a music composer and one of the best investigators of flamenco
tradition as well.Being among the few guitarists of his generation that had
studied music, he was the first to elevate flamenco music in University level since
he was teaching Andalusian and folkloric Spanish music in the University of
Granada.As a concert guitarist Manuel Cano toured continuously presenting his
flamenco music world wide and keeping this activity as one of his main
occupations.
Mario Escudero (1928)
Mario Escudero “Niño de Alicante” was born in Alicante in 1928.He started
playing guitar very young and by the age of fourteen he was accompanist
guitarist of Vicente Escudero group touring professionally throughout
Europe.Then he made world wide tours with the groups of José Gréco and
Carmen Amaya.Meeting great success in his United States of America tours,he
settled there to establish himself as a concert guitarist.As a guitar soloist or
accompanist he has a very rich recording career while many recordings together
with Sabicas are included in his recording list.After making an international
career in United States of America he decided to return to his native Spain where he settled in Seville
being respected as one of the best flamenco guitarists of his generation.
Juan Serrano (1936)
Juan Serrano was born in Cordoba in 1936.Son of a professional guitarist he
acquired under his father’s strict supervision a technical facility virtually
unmatched today.After accompanying such vital links in the history of flamenco
as Pepe de La Matrona,Pastora Imperio,Bernanda y Fernanda de Utrera,José
Cepero,El Farruco and many others,he played the first solo flamenco guitar
concert ever heard in Spain,in 1959 at the musical festival of Granada.After that
he toured world wide as a guitar soloist before settling permanently in United
States of America where he currently heads the guitar department of California
State University in Fresno.From many years ago his hometown Cordoba central public square clock
sounds the time with his recordings in honour of his supremacy.
Paco Peña (1942)
Francisco Peña Pérez “Paco Peña” was born in Cordoba in 1942.Being a
professional guitarist by the age of 12 he has been one of the best known names in
flamenco activities worldwide.Having settled to London very young he toured
many countries as a guitar soloist or with the flamenco groups that he has
formed.In his home town Córdoba he has established a very successful annual
guitar and dance festival were many famous artists have participated while in
Rotterdam University he directs the local flamenco guitar school.
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