Andrés Segovia

Andrés Segovia elevated the classical guitar to a concert-hall staple through sheer artistry and advocacy. Across a seven-decade career starting in 1909, he expanded the guitar's repertoire by commissioning over 100 works from composers like Federico Mompou and Manuel Ponce. His 1924 debut in Paris's Théâtre du Châtelet marked a turning point, with critics praising the guitar's newfound depth, and his transcriptions of Bach's works remain definitive, with sales exceeding 10 million records. While #10 Héroes del Silencio reached rock audiences, Segovia outperforms them in classical impact, achieving 90% name recognition among guitarists according to a 2020 survey. His recordings, like the 1939 "Recuerdos de la Alhambra," still set the tempo standard at 60 bpm for contemporary players.