Flamenco guitar portrait - Paco León

Born in 1991 in Puerto de Santa María (Cadiz), Francisco Gallardo León "Paco León" started to play guitar with master Antonio Villar at the age of nine. Few years later he joined the Academy of Guitar Maestro Jose Luis Balao. Soon Paco won the 2nd Prize at the International Competition III "Niño Ricardo" Murcia and also won the second prize XXIII International flamenco guitar contest "Peña Los Cernicalos" and award given to the great guitarist Manolo Sanlucar.
In November 2007, he participated in Canal Sur "Flamencos" program in "Flamenco con futuro". In 2010 he won competition "Youth Flamenca" organized by the Institute of Andalusian youth and the Andalusian Agency for the Development of Flamenco and presented his show at XVI Biennial Flamenco Festival 2010 and "Eutopia" of Cordoba.
Now Paco León continues his learning Joaquin Villatoro Music Conservatory of Jerez de la Frontera. He's playing second guitar and sharing the stage with major artists such as Joaquín Grilo, Jose Merce, La Macanita etc. and is a part of the company of guitarist and composer Paco Cepero.