Tom PowellPACO DE LUCIA will be buried in his hometown of Algeciras today following yesterday’s public memorial service in Madrid.
The world famous flamenco guitarist died aged 66 from a heart attack on Tuesday, during a family holiday in Mexico.
He was playing football with his eight-year-old son near the Caribbean resort of Playa del Carmen, where he had a house, at the time.
He was in the process of recording a new flamenco album and had also been planning to take his children to Havana, in order to introduce them to the Cuban scene.
De Lucia’s remains were flown into Madrid from Mexico yesterday, where people were able to file past the casket for several hours at the National Auditorium music centre.
He will be buried alongside his parents and his son Curro Sanchez Varela at a cemetery in Algeciras.
The town called three days of mourning when he died and flew flags at half-mast in respect for his life and legend status.
De Lucia is hailed as one of the greatest guitarists of all time and credited with modernising the entire flamenco genre.
In a career which went on to span more than 50 years, he won numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Flamenco Album 2004, the National Award for Flamenco Guitar, and the Gold Medal of Merit Fine Arts.
In a statement, the Junta in Cadiz expressed their sorrow at his passing, and declared three days of mourning.
A man who made so many feel truly alive – RIP.
Another great loss of a great musician.