Perico el del Lunar was born in Jerez de la Frontera in 1894 of non-gypsy linage, and it is said that he possessed the most profound knowledge of flamenco. He was also extremely knowledgeable with the cante and baile, especially the older styles, and he worked with many dancers and singers of his time including, Manuel Torre, Antonio Chacón, La Niña de los Peines and Carmen Amaya to name only a few.

If it were not through the constant dedication that artists like Perico el del Lunar showed to their art, many of the old styles of flamenco would have been lost and forgotten. On the excellent Hispavox Anthology de cante flamenco, in which he was the sole guitarist, he even had to show a few of the cantaores how to sing some of the near obsolete styles. The accompanist needs to have a good knowledge of all of the styles of cante, even to the extent of being able to sing them!

Perico el del Lunar certainly had this quality and he was considered to be a master accompanist, a man who spent much of his time restoring some of the disappearing styles of cante and their accompaniments.

Another two great masters of the flamenco guitar, Javier Molina and Ramon Montoya, influenced his style of guitar and these styles are evident in some of Perico's early recordings.

Perico's style of playing was said to be the most primitive, full of driving force and rhythm and he produced the most profound duende and emotion with his guitar. He spent his last years living in Madrid where he died of cancer in 1964.

Perico el del Lunar will be remembered as one of the most primitive jondo style guitarists of the last century and thankfully his son, who uses the same pseudonym, has followed in his footsteps.