Paco de Lucía has established himself as a famous Spanish composer and guitarist. Today he is one among the leading exponents of the Modern Flamenco style. He is considered as a talented flamenco guitarist throughout the world. He is not only skilled in flamenco; he is one of the very few flamenco guitarists who have also managed to embrace other genres of music. Throughout his successful career he has been a renowned musician in many styles, including jazz, funk, classical, and world music. He has achieved the Prince of Asturias Awards in Arts in 2004.

He belongs to a musical family, the son of Spanish Gypsies flamenco guitarist Antonio Sánchez, and brother of flamenco singer Pepe de Lucía and flamenco guitarist Ramón de Algeciras, he acquired the stage name Paco de Lucía in respect of his Portuguese-Gypsy mother, Lúcia Gomes. He made his debut performance at the young age of 11, on Radio Algeciras, and after a year he was honored with a special prize in the Jerez flamenco competition. In 1961, he appeared touring with the flamenco group of dancer José Greco. From 1968 and 1977, he enjoyed a successful collaboration with friend, New Flamenco innovator Camarón de la Isla. They together came up with 10 albums.

In 1979 he experimented forming a trio with John McLaughlin and Larry Coryell. It was named as "The Guitar Trio". They embarked on a brief tour to Europe and issued a video recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall called "Meeting of Spirits". Later, Al Di Meola substituted Coryell. And since then they have recorded three albums under that line-up. He has issued various albums incorporating both traditional and modern flamenco styles. He has proved himself as a master of technique. The University of Cadiz has honored de Lucía's musical and cultural contributions by bestowing him with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa on March 23, 2007.

De Lucía is regarded as a master of rasgueados and picados and is efficient enough at playing with blinding speed on the nylon string guitar. As a flamenco guitarist, de Lucía has given greater attention to rhythmical accuracy in his interpretation of the Concierto. Joaquín Rodrigo announced that no one had ever performed his composition in such an excellent manner.

Discography • Dos Guitarras Flamencas (1965) • 12 Canciones de García Lorca para Guitarra (1965) • Dos Guitarras Flamencas en América Latina (1967) • La Fabulosa Guitarra de Paco de Lucía (1967) • Hispanoamérica (1969) • assion, Grace and Fire (1983) • Live... One Summer Night (1984) • Entre Dos Aguas (1986) • Siroco (1987) • Live recordings (1987) • Zyryab (1990) • Concierto de Aranjuez (1991) • Live in América (1993) • The Guitar Trio (1996) • Luzia (1998)