Sabicas biography definition
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Before him are Alicia de Larrocha (1923), Joan Manuel Serrat (1943), Ricardo Viñes (1875), Paco Ibáñez (1934), Nicanor Zabaleta (1907), and Manny Charlton (1941). The Early Days of Sabicas
The story of Sabicas is something else. Extensivecollaboration with importantcantaores of the periodhelped him develop his uniquepersonal style.
Leaving Spain in 1936 during the SpanishCivil War, he went into exile in SouthAmerica with bailaoraCarmen Amaya.
Before him are Gerald Bull, Mario Pizziolo, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Alfred Sauvy, Edwin O. Reischauer, and Robert Cummings. A large low table took up one side of the living room – Diego explained it was sound equipment his brother used in preparing recordings, which was impressive considering the era and circumstances.
"Paco had specifically requested to meet the great Sabicas whom he had admired for many years, and he was duly impressed with the elder man’s impeccable technique.
Also, he was considered to have perfect pitch. How about that? Even at full speed, you could hear everything!
Flying Fingers: What technique! After him are Roy Buchanan, Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, James Galway, David Sanborn, Billy Hart, and Harry Edison.
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Sabicas
1912 - 1990
HPI: 58.47
Rank: 1,056
Roy Buchanan
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Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
1961 - Present
HPI: 58.46
Rank: 1,058
James Galway
1939 - Present
HPI: 58.46
Rank: 1,059
David Sanborn
1945 - 2024
HPI: 58.46
Rank: 1,060
Billy Hart
1940 - Present
HPI: 58.45
Rank: 1,061
Harry Edison
1915 - 1999
HPI: 58.44
Rank: 1,062
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1912, Sabicas ranks 214.
Before him are Erich Leinsdorf, John Frost, Teuvo Aura, Luiz Gonzaga, Yusuf Lule, and Duke Christian Louis of Mecklenburg. Sabicas is the 1,056th most popular musician (down from 938th in 2024), the 1,210th most popular biography from Spain (down from 1,169th in 2019) and the 15th most popular Spanish Musician.
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Among MUSICIANS
Among musicians, Sabicas ranks 1,056 out of 3,175.
His thing was a display of precision, speed, and a brilliant sound that hit you straight on.
Crossing the Ocean: Flamenco Conquers the World
The Spanish Civil War changed everything, as it did for so many… Sabicas had to leave Spain. Apparently, the kid learned to play almost by instinct, imitating his uncle!
They say it came from how, as a child, he mispronounced the word habas (“beans”). He was probably best known for his technical skills: blazingly fast picados, fast arpeggios, qualitycomposition for the many forms of flamenco, and infallible rhythm, which was critical if playing with a dancer. After him are Enrique Fernández Arbós (1863), Tete Montoliu (1933), Pepe Romero (1944), Paco Peña (1942), José María Ventura Casas (1817), and Tomatito (1958).
Spanish born Musicians
Go to all RankingsI felt the first twinge of flamenco by way of Sabicas’ music – such beauty from such a simple wooden instrument, with the additional perk that Sabicas, was “ours”, the epicenter of flamenco in the heart of New York City, Manhattan, the Big Apple.
After classes with Mario he’d say “let’s go see what ol’ Sabas and his brother Diego are up to”.
Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in 17 different languages on Wikipedia. What a pair! Arpeggios, picados, trills… It felt like he had ten fingers on each hand. He did not return to his nativeSpainuntil 1967.
Sabicas was instrumental in the introduction of Flamenco to audiencesoutside of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world.