On April 15, the Latin Recording Academy held the Latin GRAMMY Celebra: Paco de Lucía event in Cádiz, honoring one of the most influential guitarists in the history of flamenco and music in general.
In keeping with the Latin Recording Academy’s mission of promoting Latin music and building bridges between countries, musical genres and cultures, the event brought together an impressive number of artists and creators, who traveled to Cádiz, Spain to celebrate flamenco master Paco de Lucía.
The celebration, attended by family members of the late Andalucian icon, witnessed unique and memorable moments beginning with the host and Latin GRAMMY nominee Miguel Poveda, who kicked off the evening with Federico García Lorca’s poem "La guitarra" before introducing de Lucía’s anthem "Entre dos aguas" alongside Juan Manuel Cañizares, José María Bandera, Rubem Dantas, Niño Josele and Abraham Laboriel.
From there, the night became a musical voyage around the world, creating opportunities for exposure to sounds beyond city and country of origin. Artists and friends of de Lucia performed some of the most beloved songs composed by the maestro, whose insatiable curiosity was a constant source of musical creation. That curiosity led him to incorporate the cajón into the flamenco genre, an event that artists Antonio Carmona, Rubem Dantes, Ané Carrasco, Tino Di Geraldo, Israel Suárez "Piraña," and Víctor Martínez chose to commemorate with a special performance during the ceremony.
The Gran Teatro Falla, where the very special musical event was held, also welcomed contributions from artists including Latin GRAMMY winners and nominees Oscar D’León, Eliades Ochoa and Berta Rojas as well as Latin GRAMMY nominees Diego Amador, María José Llergo, India Martínez, Maria Toledo y Rosario La Tremendita.
The program also featured special guests Carlos Grilo, Jesús Guerrero, Juan Habichuela (nieto), Chonchi Heredia, José Heredia "El Gato," David de Jacoba, Jaime Calabuch "Jumitus," Noemí Humanes, the Makarines, Carlos Merino and Juan Parrilla — all of whom paid homage to de Lucía’s music and mastery.
The evening’s electrifying final performance included young artists, who performed the song "Solo quiero caminar" arranged by Víctor Martínez, showcasing a striking fusion of musical genres and rhythms as they interpreted de Lucía’s musical legacy for future generations.
Also in attendance were Cádiz Mayor Bruno García and Arturo Bernal, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Regional Government of Andalucía. Additionally, important local figures such as Esmeralda Rancapino, Claudia la Chispa, Hamza, Maria Espejo, Lucia Serrano, among others attended the celebration.
During the event an exclusive project was launched by the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation in collaboration with the Paco de Lucía Foundation and Berklee College of Music: featuring the recording and video of de Lucías’s "Cositas buenas." The performance included arrangements and instrumentation by artists from the Alalá Foundation and was produced by Salomé Limón, a member of the Latin Academy’s Circle of Producers and Engineers, with the participation of four Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation scholarship recipients.
Proceeds from event ticket sales support the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation and the Paco de Lucía Scholarship. The event was produced by Macarena Moreno and The Latin Recording Academy’s team headed by Ayleen Figueras. Carlos Narea led musical production, under the musical direction of Fernando Illán and Víctor Martínez, who also were part of the band.
The event was co-financed by the Programa FEDER Andalucía 2021-2027 and the Regional Government of Andalucía, and sponsored by the City of Cádiz and the Enrique Tomás brand of jamón ibérico.
This was the first live event that The Latin Recording Academy has hosted in the Community of Andalucía in 2024 to continue elevating its culture around the world. On May 16, they will host a new Latin GRAMMY Session at Plaza de Toros (La Malagueta) in Málaga.
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