Famous Spanish Guitarists

Spanish-American actress, singer, comedian, and flamenco-guitarist Charo, whose birth year remains a subject of dispute for several years, is known for her seductive deep voice with Spanish accent, unrestrained and exuberant manner, and the catch-phrase cuchi-cuchi. She has released albums like Guitar Passion, featured in films like The Concorde...Airport '79 and guest starred in TV series like The Love Boat.

Paco de Lucía was a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist, composer, and record producer. Often counted among history’s greatest guitarists, he was one of the first flamenco guitarists to branch into classical and jazz. He was a master of contrast known for his fast and fluent picados and rasgueados. He was a recipient of the Prince of Asturias Award.   

Francisco Tárrega was a Spanish composer and classical guitarist active during the Romantic period. He is often considered the father of classical guitar and is counted among the greatest guitarists of all time. He loved music from an early age and was able to build a successful career with his father’s encouragement. He died at the peak of his career. 

Antonio Flores was a Spanish actor and singer-songwriter. He is best remembered for his pop rock style and his songs cover a wide range of genres. As an actor, Flores is known for starring alongside American actress Sharon Stone in the 1989 Spanish drama film Blood and Sand. At age 33, Flores committed suicide two weeks after his mother's demise.

Fernando Sor was a Spanish composer and classical guitarist best remembered for writing solo classical guitar music. Widely regarded as the best classical guitarist of his generation, Fernando Sor also composed an opera, two ballets, and three symphonies. Many of his works have been studied by students and guitar enthusiasts all over the world.

Manny Charlton is a Spanish guitarist. He is credited with co-founding the popular hard rock band Nazareth where he served as the lead guitarist between 1968 and 1990. Manny Charlton played a major role in the worldwide success of the band. Apart from playing the guitar, Manny Charlton also served as the band's producer for several years.

Narciso García Yepes was a Spanish guitarist best remembered for his work with conductor and pianist Ataúlfo Argenta. Yepes is credited with popularizing a classical guitar concerto named Concierto de Aranjuez. Over the years, Narciso García Yepes went on to become one of the 20th century's finest virtuoso classical guitarists.

Tomatito is a Spanish guitarist best known for his association with the popular singer Camarón de la Isla. Tomatito has made six solo albums and several collaborative albums, winning Latin Grammy Awards for two of his albums. Although he is renowned for his Roma flamenco style, Tomatito often incorporates elements of jazz in his music.

Initially a theologian, Gaspar Sanz later went to Italy to study music and later also focused on literature. Best remembered for his works such as Instruccion de musica sobre la guitarra Espanola, he also developed the use of the classical guitar. He had also been an organist to the viceroy of Napoles.

Pablo Espinosa is a Spanish musician, actor, and singer. Espinosa is best known for portraying Ramiro in the popular series El Secreto De Puente Viejo. He is also known for portraying Tomás in Disney Channel's Violetta. 

Pepe Romero is a Spanish guitarist who has performed as a classical and flamenco soloist around the world. Counted among the best, Romero has also played for influential personalities like James Earl Carter Jr., Richard Nixon, and Pope John Paul II. His contributions have inspired composers to write exclusively for him. Romero has won several prestigious awards around the world.

Spanish gypsy guitarist Sabicas is remembered as one of the greatest flamenco musicians of all time. His personal and professional relationship with flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya was also part of gossip magazines. He had started playing the guitar at age 5 and began performing publicly at age 8.

One of the world’s most significant flamenco musicians, Paco Peña is remembered for his albums such as Azahara and Flamenco. He has also collaborated with the likes of the Flamenco Dance Company and Argentine guitarist Eduardo Falu. Starting to play the guitar at 6, he began his musical career at a London restaurant.

Vicente Amigo is a Spanish flamenco guitarist and composer whose album Ciudad de las Ideas was named the Best Flamenco Album at the 2001 Latin Grammy Awards. The album was also named best Flamenco work at the 2002 Ondas Award. Vicente Amigo has worked as an accompanying guitarist for popular singers like Luis de Córdoba and Camarón de la Isla.  

Touted by the media as a representative of Spanish culture in the global music scene, classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas has performed in over 40 countries. He has also earned awards such as the Radio Nacional de España’s Ojo Crítico Award and has performed for the Spanish royal family.

Largely known as the man whom popularized flamenco guitar as a mainstream and serious form of music for concert audiences, Carlos Montoya began his musical career playing at various Madrid cafes. He also became the first flamenco guitarist to have appeared as a soloist with popular orchestras.

Luis de Milán was the first to publish music on the vihuela, which is a Spanish version of the lute. His best-known work remains El Maestro, which was the first in a series of books on the vihuela. Some of his works were also dedicated to King John III of Portugal.

Roi Méndez is a Spanish guitarist and singer who achieved national recognition when he appeared in the ninth season of the popular reality television series Operación Triunfo. His popularity increased when he released his single Por una vez más in 2018. The following year, he came up with his album Mi Lógico Desorden which became popular in Spain.

Known as the man behind the formation of the Romeros guitar quartet, Celedonio Romero had begun playing the guitar at age 5. Apart from being a guitarist, he was a composer and poet, too. He later settled in the US with his family. He eventually lost his battle with lung cancer.

Initially a choirboy, Felipe Pedrell later became known as the founder of modern Spanish musicology. He was not just the first Spanish musician to develop traditional music but also the first Catalan Modernist musician to contribute to foreign music movements. His works include collections of operas and folk songs.