He was acquainted with flamenco since childhood. His father and his brother were his main influences. When he was 11 years old, he made his first public appearance on Radio Algeciras, and a year later was awarded a special prize in the Jerez flamenco competition.

Francisco Sánchez Gómez, stage name Paco de Lucía was born in 1947, in Algeciras, a city in the province of Cádiz, it is located south of Spain directly in front of the Rock of Gibraltar.

He was youngest of five children. He adopted the stage name Paco de Lucía in honor of his Portuguese mother, Lucía Gomes.

PACO DE LUCÍA THE GUITARIST

He enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with fellow New Flamenco cantaor (one of the premier flamenco singers) Camarón de la Isla. They began a long and productive relationship.

At 12, he began playing with his brother in a group. Some years later they toured the world, starting his international career. By 1970, he had gained so great a reputation that he was asked to perform at an international festival organized for the bicentennial of Beethoven’s death, celebrated at Barcelona’s Palau de la Música. Paco de Lucia became a star of the charts in

1973 with “Entre dos aguas” rumba that got the youngest beginning to become interested in flamenco guitar. His 2004 recording “'Cositas buenas,” was nominated as best contemporary world music album by the Grammys and won the Latin Grammy for Best Flamenco Album.

He has been criticized by purists flamenco for his forays into other styles, because he has included bass, drums and saxophone and his high profle collaborations, specially with jazz musician, most notably with pianist Chick Corea and fellow guitarist John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell and Al DiMeola

He has recorded over twenty albums, among which are: “Two flamenco guitars" (1965), “Twelve songs of García Lorca for guitar" (1965), “Andalusian songs for two guitars", “Fuente y caudal" (1973 ), “Almoraima" (1976), “Sólo quiero caminar" (1981), “Siroco" (1987), “Zyryab" (1990), “Concierto de Aranjuez" (1991), “Luzia" (1998) and “Cositas"(2004).

He was the first flamenco artist to receive Spain’s 2004 Premio Príncipe de Asturias. The University of Cadiz recognized de Lucía's musical and cultural contributions by conferring on him the title of Doctor Honoris Causa on March 23, 2007.

He was one of the best flamenco teacher and a revolutionary in the genre. His influence has changed the conception of flamenco music during the last three decades. Over the course of his career, he has made many revolutionary changes in flamenco.

He is considered the most prestigious flamenco guitarist internationally and the most influential flamenco musician of our time. Widely acclaimed for his innovative approach to the ancient art, he has won flamenco a wide audience around the world through his compositions.