Luthier José López Bellido has passed away at the age of 81.

José López Bellido, an esteemed Granada-based classical and flamenco guitar luthier, passed away on May 10, 2024, at the age of 81. Born in 1943 and raised in the heart of Granada, Spain, José dedicated his life to crafting exquisite guitars that have resonated with musicians and enthusiasts worldwide. He was a significant figure in guitar-making in Granada. His brother, Manuel López Bellido, also built guitars, and José learned his craft from him. Additionally, José sought advice from Eduardo Ferrer and was a close friend of Rafael Moreno, who had a workshop located close to the Alhambra, on the same street as José's workshop.

José taught many important guitar makers, such as Antonio Raya Pardo and Bernd Martin, among many others. His guitars capture the traditional spirit of fine handmade concert instruments made in the Andalusian region of Spain – the heartland of the Spanish guitar in general and of flamenco in particular.

José was a wonderful, kind, and generous person. In 2021, during the pandemic, he won 10 million euros in a lottery and decided to distribute this amount among sixty families who faced financial hardships.

[source: ideal.es, photo credit: Ramon L. Perez]