Paco de Lucía, 2004 Prince of Asturias Award Laureate for the Arts, has just held a press conference at Oviedo´s Hotel de la Reconquista, where he looked back over his career and expressed his appreciation at receiving the Award
Paco de Lucía at his press coference.
Cadiz-born artist Paco de Lucía has just given a press conference
to media registered for the 2004 Prince of Asturias Award, in which he
looked back over his career and his artistic relationship and friendship
with Camarón de la Isla, and speculated on the future of Flamenco.
The 2004 Prince of Asturias for Arts award winner spoke to the conference
audience of his joy at receiving the honour, which he dedicated to «my
colleagues, as the Award is marvellous for music, for culture and for
the many people I represent». He went on to say that, «This
Award shows that official organisations value Flamenco».
Paco de Lucía recalled moments of his childhood in Algeciras,
the time when he began to play the guitar and his first performances on
American stages at the tender age of twelve. He said that, «Childhood
is the purest state an artist can achieve», and that, contrary to
rumours that he was retiring from the stage, «I have the obligation
to continue playing, health permitting and providing I have something
to communicate, and particularly if I can still provoke surprise».
He also spoke of his links with the now-deceased, great genius of Flamenco
singing, Camarón de la Isla. He assured his audience that the first
time he heard him sing, «I went crazy. He is still my hero».
He went on to say, «I share 65% of this Award with Camarón
and the rest with myself». In reply to other questions, he commented
on the enormous influence that Cadiz-born singer Camarón has on
the upcoming generations of Flamenco artists, claiming, «They all
sound like him».
