Antonio Rey Navas, better known as Antonio Rey, was born on March 9, 1981, in Madrid, Spain. He began his artistic career at the age of ten when he accompanied his father, Tony Rey to various tablaos (flamenco venues) in Mexico. A few years later, he made his first tour of Japan with the dancer Yoko Komatsubara.
At 18 years of age, he worked in the company of Antonio Canales and later composed the music for Gallo de pelea for the Nuevo Ballet Español (New Spanish Ballet). Rey composed other compositions, such as “Romeo and Juliet”, for the Antonio Canales company, which was founded in 1996 by Angel Rojas and Carlos Rodriguez. He went on to perform in the capacity of accompanist for singers and dancers Manuela Carrasco, Rafael Amargo, Farruquito and singers Rafael de Utrera and La Tana, among others.
Rey was first discovered in 2007 when flamenco guitar maestro and innovator Gerardo Núñez decided to produce the young player’s first album, “A través de ti”. Rey’s 2011 “Colores de Fuego” album highlighted an evolving unique, inspired, and surprising guitar style, followed by his 2013 “Camino al Alma”, his third recording, which proved to be a huge step in his musical maturity.
In addition, Rey won the National Flamenco Guitar Award at the XIX Concurso Nacional de Arte de Flamenco de Córdoba in 2010 joining the ranks of such luminaries as Paco de Lucía, Vicente Amigo and Paco Peña; The Concurso Nacional de Guitarra Flamenca “Niño Ricardo” International Guitar Competition; and the Concurso Internacional de Guitarra Flamenca Los Cernícalos de Jerez de la Frontera.
(headline photo; Antonio Rey – Photo by Curtis Jermany)
Discography:
A través de ti
Colores Del Fuego (EMI, 2011)
Camino Al Alma (EMI, 2013)
Dos Partes de Mi (2017)
Flamenco sin fronteras (El Cerrito Records, 2020)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.