Pepe Romero

Presents the memories and insights of a great musician-a master of the guitar whose performances and exuberant, caring nature have brought joy to many around the world.

Pepe Romero (b. 1944) has been one of the preeminent exponents of classical and flamenco guitar for over sixty years. He is renowned worldwide for his innumerable concerts and many recordings of a wide variety of repertoire, from solos to concertos and works for guitar duet and quartet. Indeed, Celedonio Romero (1913-96) and his three sons, Celin (b. 1936), Pepe, and Angel (b. 1946), formed the first significant guitar quartet in music history. In this memoir, Pepe conveys his views on a variety of topics pertaining to the guitar, including repertoire, technique, teaching, guitar makers, concertizing and the psychology of performance. He also offers fascinating recollections of his early years in Spain, his family life, and his collaborations and friendships with leading musicians, artists and writers. Though the focus is understandably on Pepe and his immediate circle, the reader also gains insights into the sociocultural context in which he grew up, during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco in the wake of a ruinous civil war. The Romeros moved to Southern California in 1957, a locale that proved very conducive to the success of a quartet of Spanish guitarists and one they still call home. This book will both entertain and inform a wide variety of readers and leave a lasting and reliable record of an extraordinary musician's exceptionally rich life.