Every flamenco lover knows who Manuel Muñoz, better known as Manolo Sanlúcar, is. Born in a flamenco environment, everything presaged that he would become a prodigy of the flamenco guitar and a great artist. And so he is.

Biography of Manolo Sanlúcar

Guitarist. Born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz, Manolo Sanlúcar grew up breathing flamenco. His father, a great guitar aficionado, was his teacher and point of reference. From him he learned the guitar wisdom he acquired from his classes with Javier Molina. Thanks to his father's impetus to learn, Manolo Sanlúcar had an exceptional teacher and a serious and rigorous teaching that marked him forever.

At the age of eight, Manolo Sanlúcar won a prize with a young cantaor from Sanlúcar and, from that moment on, he did not stop performing with his guitar at musical events, such as fiestas in villages around Sanlúcar, private parties, and even on radio programmes. This attracted the attention of the Sevillian maestro Pepe Pinto, who proposed that he join the cast of his company. As they were on a break at the time, he invited him to join Pepe Marchena's company, and in 1957, at the age of fourteen, he began his promising artistic career as a guitarist. 

The beginnings of Manolo Sanlúcar

Manolo Sanlúcar made his debut with Pepe Marchena's company in a modest theatre in Campillos, a village in the province of Málaga. He was joined by a group of new artists and the singers Manolo "El Malagueño" and Luis Rueda.

He stayed with this company for several years until he moved to the company of Manolo "El Malagueño". During this time he met La Paquera de Jerez with whom he formed a couple for more than 5 years, touring from the most prestigious theatres in Spain to the most humble villages.

After completing his military service, and not before finishing the tour with La Paquera, he was offered a contract at the tablao "Las Brujas" where he began his solo career, recording his first albums as a concert performer.

It was in 1972, after having performed at the Club Urbis in Madrid, that he performed at the Ateneo de Madrid. This performance established him as a magnificent concert guitarist and led him on a tour of Italy, where he won First Prize at the World Guitar Festival in Campione. He also won the National Flamenco Guitar Prize, awarded by the Cátedra de Flamencología y Estudios Folklóricos Andaluces, in Jerez de la Frontera. After both awards, his performances spread beyond the frontiers.  

Examples of the greatness of the guitarist from Sanlúcar de Barrameda
His artistic restlessness has led him to express himself through concerts and composition. At all times, he has sought ways to integrate flamenco into symphonic music, gaining worldwide recognition that has led him to perform new works in theatres all over the world.

Manolo Sanlúcar has been and will be synonymous with talent and greatness, because every time he went on stage he gave a lesson in mastery and artistry. He is gifted with such a technique that no one can doubt his artistic dimension. Proof of this is the list of awards he has won in his career, the same one he brought to an end at the Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de la Cueva de Nerja.

After another marvellous performance, which lifted the audience from their seats, Sanlúcar announced, to the surprise of the audience, that he was putting an end to his career. And he did so, emotionally, singing to the Andalusians and Andalusia with his work "Canción de Andalucía". As he had dreamed.

Autobiography of Manolo Sanlúcar

In 2007 the flamenco guitarist from Sanlúcar published his autobiography under the name "El Alma Compartida" in which the artist retraces his life, from his childhood, focusing on his passion: the guitar.

Years later he published his "Obra didáctica de la guitarra flamenca".

In 2019 the documentary "Manolo Sanlúcar: El Legado" was published.

Awards and acknowledgements for Manolo Sanlúcar

During his extensive professional career, the guitarist from Sanlúcar de Barrameda has won several awards and recognitions that make it clear that he is one of the greats.

- National Guitar Prize, Andalusian Chair of Flamenco, 1972.

- First prize at the World Guitar Festival, Campione, Italy, 1972.  

- First prize at the National Guitar Competition, Cordoba, Spain, 1974.

- Maratón en música" Radio Popular, Madrid, 1974.

- Castillete Minero", Gold Category, 1975. Gold Category, 1975.

- Spanish Guitarist Award, Record World, USA, 1978.

- Award to the most important Spanish instrumentalist, Madrid, 1980.                    

- Gold Record. 

- Popular de pueblo". Journalistic distinction.                                                                 

- Andalusian of the year, 1989.                                                                                     

- Compás del cante, 1991                                                                           

- Almenara Award.     

- Member of the Royal Provincial Academy of Fine Arts of Cadiz.

- In July 1998 the Asociación Nacional de Crítico de Arte Flamenco (National Association of Flamenco Art Critics) awarded him the Premio de Honor de la Crítica.

- FECAC Foundation Award (Catalonia) 1998 for his "Artistic Work".   

- Silver Medal at the New York Film and Video Festival in the multimedia section for the soundtrack of the ENCYCLOPEDIA ELECTRONICA.

- Award "Flamenco hoy 2000" Best solo guitar album "Locura de brisa y trino".

- National Music Award 2000 . Spanish Ministry of Culture .

- Award "Calle de Alcalá 2001".

- Award "Flamenco hoy 2006" Best solo guitar album "Medea" by Manolo Sanlúcar.

- Award "Flamenco hoy 2006 " Best author Manolo Sanlúcar for "La danza de los pavos".

- Award "Solidarity" 2009. Seville.

- Seville Provincial Federation of Flamenco Entities Award . 2012.

- Prize "Escaparate" 2015.

- Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, 2015. Ministry of Education and Culture.

- Medal of Andalusia , 2015     

- In 2016, he was named Favourite Son of the Province of Cádiz.

Discography of Manolo Sanlúcar

His first album was released in 1968. Since then, Manolo Sanlúcar has not stopped giving us his art and wisdom in the world of flamenco through his discography.

Flamenco Recital (1968)
Inspirations (1970)
World And Forms Of The Flamenco Guitar Vol. Yo (1971)
World And Forms Of The Flamenco Guitar Vol. II (1971)
World And Forms Of The Flamenco Guitar Vol. III (1972)
Sanlúcar (1975)
Fantasía Para Guitarra Y Orquesta (1977) a proof of fusion of two musical currents.
... Y Regresarte (Homage To Miguel Hernández) (1978)
Manolo Sanlúcar In Japan (1979)
Candela (1980)
Azahares (1981)
Al viento (1982)
Ven y sígueme (1982)
Sentimiento (1983)
Trebujena (1984) Concerto for guitar and orchestra in D Major.
Testamento Andaluz (1985)
Medea (1987), composed for the Spanish National Ballet.
Tauromagia (1988). A musical journey through the world of bullfighting.
Soleá (1989) Reflects the daily life of Andalusia through a musical work in which the harmony of its notes and melodic beauty subjugates from the beginning.
Aljibe (1992) Locura De Brisa Y Trino (2000)
La Voz Del Color (2008)

Undoubtedly, this is one of the most important artists in the world of flamenco. A guitarist full of passion, wisdom and love for the fusion that his guitar was able to offer on any stage. If you are a fan of flamenco we are waiting for you with this and many more artists in ALLFLAMENCO