Paco San José
Paco San José is a Cantabrian musician, composer, and teacher of traditional Cantabrian music.
Early life
Francisco San José Mediavilla "Paco San José" was born on May 18, 1958, in Santander, Spain. He graduated from the Jesús de Monasterio Conservatory, as a music teacher man, specializing in the flute, and completed a course to be a choral conductor.Career
Paco San José has recorded more than forty albums, mostly popular Cantabrian music, using a variety of instruments such as the traditional Cantabrian clarinet mib, clarinet sib, bagpipes, dulzaina, three-hole flute, traverse flute, Andean flutes, guitar, and accordion. He is also the founder of the Santander Piteros Collective. San José is a founding professor of the Santander School of Traditional Music, where classes on various instruments are taught. He served as the director of the International Piteros Festival in Cantabria. In 2010 he also published the book The secret life of the piteros. 30 years of anecdotes and experiences.In 2007 he received a commendation from the Parliament of Cantabria upon the 25th anniversary of the regions autonomy. Upon his thirtieth anniversary as a recording artist, a half hour feature on his career broadcast over National Radio from a stage at the Centro de Acción Social y Cultural de Caja Cantabria. In June 2022, he received the Proa Award from the Cantabrian Folklore Gala—a lifetime achievement award.
Personal life
He is a keen mountaineer and climber in his spare time. He is married to María Gómez Ganzo, and has two daughters from a previous marriage, along with two grandchildren. The wedding ceremony took place on the summit of the Naranjo de Bulnes, or Picu Urriellu, and iconic peak in the Picos de Europa National Park.Publications
2010 book.2016 book.
Discography
2001 “El Templo del Sol” Cd.2001 “A lo vivu” Cd.
2004 “La Lluvia del Arcoíris” Cd.
2007 “En Directo” Cd.
2008 Pito y Tambor tradicional Cd.
2010 Polvora Fina Cd.
2011 La Música de las Danzas de Cantabria
2015 Iquique
2018 Piteros y Rabeles