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Did yo know a historic event took place in NY in the 50ties when Sabicas told Paco de Lucia to abandon that "Niño Ricardo ****" in order to produce some decent music himself?! On top i guess the most influential record of that period of time (Flamenco Puro by Sabicas) was NY based as well.
In reply to Erik -- I believe the event you're referring to took place in the 60's, when Paco (BTW if you are translating his flamenco name it would be "of," meaning "from," Lucia -- his mother, not "the" -- but maybe you know that and are just using "the" as in "the man"?)
Anyway Paco passed through NY beginning in the 60's, by which time Sabicas lived here. I don't think he was here before that, as he was born in '47. I was a tad young then, but know people who were at juergas where 16 year old Paco wowed everybody. I do think this was his first time in NY -- but your info differs?
The "the" was a slip of the pen/brain which strangely enough happens to me every now and than when i write his name in an English text.
And you are right about the timeframe...it probably happened in 1961 during his tour with José Greco. As far as i know he was only 14 at the time (maybe 15) and since i sometimes mixe up his year of birth with that of Paco Peña (1942) i wrongfully situated the event in the late 50ties, thanks for correcting :-)
Anyway Paco passed through NY beginning in the 60's, by which time Sabicas lived here.
And not only Sabicas. New York in the sixties was THE place for flamenco guitar. Living in New York at that time were Sabicas, Mario Escudero, Carlos Montoya, Vicente Gomez, Fernando Sirvent, and others.
I didn’t realize it at the time because it was all very natural, but in retrospect I was incredibly fortunate to have met all of them, and to have studied with Mario and Vicente.