Andrés Segovia was the most important and influential classical guitarist of the 20th century. He established the classical guitar as a serious concert instrument, transforming it from an amateur's instrument to one respected in recital.
Segovia was born in the Andalusian town of Linares, Spain, on . He took up the guitar despite the objections of his family, who wanted him to study the violin, and was largely self-taught. In 1912, he made his official debut at...