Mario Escudero

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Mario Escudero is one of a handful of Spanish flamenco guitar virtuosos who helped spread flamenco beyond their homeland when they migrated to the United States in the 1960's.

Along with others such as Sabicas and Juan Serrano (Flamenco), Escudero helped forge the viability of solo flamenco guitar as a concert instrument with lauded performances at New York's Carnegie Hall and other venues. Escudero was counted among the best in his era - Ramon Montoya called him "the best flamenco guitarist of this new generation." He recorded an album of duets with Sabicas, Sabicas and Escudero. He recorded several albums with flamenco dancer Anita Ramos, who played castanets and zapateados on the recordings, and the two eventually married.

Escudero was of Castillian and gipsy descent, born in Alicante, Spain on October 11, 1928. At age 9 he made his professional debut, appearing with singer Maurice Chevalier at the Cinema Galia in Bordeaux, France. Praise and standing ovations from critics and public paved the way for more work, with Escudero touring throughout Europe, South America, and eventually the US. His first two solo Carnegie Hall concerts sold out, and garnered acclaim and praise, leading to several television appearances.

Escudero eventually settled in southern California, appearing for years in music clubs and recording.