Diego Villegas
Born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cádiz, 1987), from a very early age Villegas has always had flamenco in his heart, both because of the atmosphere of his homeland and because of his sister, Raquel Villegas, a dancer, who will be the one to guide and initiate him. At the age of eight he began his classical guitar studies at the “Joaquín Turina” Conservatory (Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz), to later finish his professional studies at the “Joaquín Villatoro” Conservatory (Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz).
Diego Villegas was born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cadiz, Spain) in 1987. He grew up in a flamenco environment. His sister is a flamenco dancer and she initiated and guided him. At 8, Villegas began his classical guitar studies at the “Joaquín Turina” Conservatory in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cadiz, and then completed his Professional Degree at the Joaquín Villatoro Conservatory in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz). At the age of ten he enrolled in the Sanlúcar de Barrameda Municipal Academy, where he studied clarinet and symphonic percussion. At 12 he joined the “Julián Cerdán” Band, also in Sanlúcar, as a clarinet soloist.
In terms of flamenco, Diego Villegas has shared the stage with dancers such as Sara Baras, Antonio Fernandez ‘Farru’, Ángel Muñoz, María Juncal, Concha Jareño and Raquel Villegas. He also collaborates with artists like Remedios Amaya, María Toledo, Jorge Pardo, Israel Suárez “Piranha”, etc.
Diego Villegas leads the Flamenco-Jazz Project. He plays musical instruments such as flute and saxophone. He also uses other wind instruments rarely utilized in flamenco: harmonica and clarinet.
In 2016 Diego Villegas released his first solo album titled Bajo de Guía, which is dedicated a well-known neighborhood in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. On Bajo de Guía, Villegas combines flamenco, jazz, bossa nova and Latin American rhythms.