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The greatest guitar player EVER as far as electric guitar - was, without a doubt, Jimi Hendrix. He could even play behind his back or with his tongue. His songs, notwithstanding his licks, made him famous to every college student in the 1960's and seventies. Hendrix's music burst forth from those not-so-hallowed halls of academia, where pot and incense mixed together to heighten everybody's already altered senses. His death was untimely. He was so far ahead of his time that he naturally had to fight the forces of greedy record producers and other jealous guitarists who couldn't even come close to, stand next to, touch his fire. Shortly after starting his own record company he died of an overdose.

As far as classical guitar playing - the most famous is Andrs Segovia, who achieved worldwide fame in his sixties. His Chaconne by J.S. Bach is incredible. A perfect interpretation of Renaissance music. Segovia's renditions were technically flawless, smooth, effortless. His music and melodies captured the essential Spain - not the gritty side but the serene beauty, the timeless feel of a sophisticated Iberian sensibility.

At present, the greatest guitar players are mostly found in Spain. Almost no one can play like a Spaniard, unless they have some gypsy in their blood (as Hendrix). Go to a side-street bar late at night in Barcelona or Granada, Spain and hear Flamenco gypsies tear it up. These virtuosos jam on a Tarantas, Pasodobles, Farrucas, Rhumbas. Sometimes a woman Flamenco dancer will dance on a table, while the male guitarists belt-out a wail about a passionate love betrayed or lost -about revenge or racism and poverty. Their language in ancient, a Spanish at times unrecognizable to most people conversant in the language. It is CATALAN, Moorish-gypsy, deeply Catholic. This is terribly exciting music. Flamenco played by Spanish gypsies is so moving, with so much "duende" or feeling. Flamenco artists play it different each time, so it's always alive, always creative. It's never boring. Never the same. My absolutely favorite music group is the Gypsy Kings. I've seen them perform twice here in Albuquerque and we have their CD's, DVD's. Catch them when they come to your town. Not to be missed. Truly fabulous.

Other famous guitar players who have major chops are Paco de Lucia, a gypsy who has become very successful commercially, but who's not crazy about the United States, it seems. Al De Meola, another great jazz guitarist. When Al and Paco got together and played in

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