PRESS RELEASES
Paco de Lucia | “Pepito y Paquito”
Pepito y Paco Features the Earliest Recordings of
Flamenco Masters Paco de Lucía and
His Older Brother Pepe
“Bulería Niño Ricardo” and “Me Falta la Resistencia,” the Lead Singles from Pepito y Paquito, Were the First Sound Recordings of the Brothers When They Were 13 and
11 Years Old
The AI-Restored Collection of 21 Unreleased Songs
Will be Released Through BMG with the
Paco de Lucía Foundation
Available on CD, Vinyl and Digital May 17
Available in CD, 2-LP, and Deluxe Bookpack 2-LP + CD
Before being known as Paco de Lucía and Pepe de Lucía, they were Pepito and Paquito. Two prodigies of singing and guitar surrounded by art and music in their native Algeciras. Very few were aware of or had access to the first recordings of the Sánchez Gómez brothers who, at the ages of 13 and 11 for Pepe and Paco respectively, that were made between 1959 and 1960. For Pepito y Paquito, BMG teamed up with the Paco de Lucía Foundation to rescue 21 unreleased pieces go back to the formative years of two legends of flamenco.
“Bulería Niño Ricardo” and “Me Falta la Resistencia,” the first two singles from Pepito y Paquito, are two of these recordings that precede their first official works when they signed as the duo Los Chiquitos de Algeciras in 1961. Recorded in a rudimentary way with a Grunding tape recorder of the time, they represent two sound documents that contain incalculable historical value.
The release of both songs coincided with the tenth anniversary of the death of Paco de Lucía, considered the most universal of all flamenco artists. Pepito y Paquito is now available for pre-order here.
With his clean and refined guitar technique, Paco’s solo on “Bulería Niño Ricardo” showcases the genius and talent he already possessed at an early age. The composition nods to Niño Ricardo, one of the great precursors of contemporary flamenco playing. While Ricardo’s influence on the early beginnings of Paco was evident on the song, there were also the seeds of his own artistic personality starting to grow. Mirror and reflection of the student who years later would surpass the teacher.
Pepe de Lucía’s voice bursts with nerve and charisma in “Me Falta La Resistencia,” adapting a famous tango by La Repompa de Málaga. The deep and passionate cante jondo crystallizes in the natural dialogue that occurs between his vocal ability and the technical skill of his younger brother. The pulse that both take on this flamenco style in this unreleased recording is a good prelude to their historic participation in the First International Flamenco Art Competition in Jerez de la Frontera.
February 25 marked a decade of since the death of Paco, considered the greatest genius of the Spanish guitar, in the Mexican town of Playa del Carmen. His heart stopped at 66 years old in the stillness of paradise. Since then, the flamenco guitar world has missed him and remembers him because no one plays like Paco did. The intrepid and creative soul of a revolutionary musician continues to beat through a timeless work that has penetrated the marrow of popular culture and has been enjoyed and studied by the most knowledgeable in the field. Achieving harmony within excellence is only within the reach of the chosen ones. The youngest son of Antonio Sánchez Pecino was one of them.
Paco did not hesitate to fuse flamenco with other styles, from jazz to classical music, without losing an undeniable depth that respected a tradition he knew inside out. Added to this was a technical mastery that changed the way of flamenco guitar playing and, above all, an inspiration that allowed him to unveil emotions that transcend skins and cultures. A unique vision and capacity to transform forms and narratives of a universal genre. Through notes and chords played with elegance and composure, he marked an era of flamenco expansion to all kinds of latitudes and sound territories.
Pepito y Paco
BMG · Release Date: May 17, 2024
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