Paco de Lucia dies in Mexico at age 66

The famous Spanish guitarist Francisco Sánchez Gómez, better known as Paco de Lucia, died in Mexico at age 66.

De Lucia was playing with his children on a beach in Cancun, when he got ill, according to the spokesman of his hometown in Algeciras, Spain. Then he was taken to a hospital where he died Tuesday night in Mexico.

Miguel Nunez, spokesman of Algeciras, said that the preliminary cause of his death was a heart attack.

Paco de Lucia, throughout his long career, injected to flamenco rhythms like jazz, “bossa nova” and even classical music. I is  also attributed to him the transition of the popular art of flamenco in a more vibrant and modern sound.

Born in Algeciras, south of Spain, on December 21st, 1947, De Lucia was one of the most recognized guitarists of the artistic world.