Matt Hernandez

MY STORY



flamenco in the midlands.



I live in the beautiful town of Warwick. I teach & perform Flamenco & Blues & also work part time with adults with Autism, learning difficulties & limited mobility. This is also very rewarding & allows me to practice music therapy.



History



My mother is of Latin origin & was born in Caracas, Venezuela, South America. My father English. After being sacked from my publishing job & recieving compensation for unfair dismissal I purchased my first guitar with the cash! Studied electric Chicago Blues, went onto fingerstyle Missisippi Delta Blues then sold my house, gave away the furniture, bought a 1970 V.W. camper van (named 'Betty Blue') & headed for Spain for a 6 month tour of Andalucia, home of Flamenco. I returned to England 2 years later (my family were missing me!) with my little Spanish hunting dog that found me - Nanu! Toured & busked every city in Andalucia after having met up with a friend (Spanish guitar's & Mandolin). After the three month tour settled in the beautiful mountain region of Granada.'The Sierra Nevada'. Studied Flamenco with a local in exchange for chopping wood, and also learned bits along the way during the busking tour, from Gypsies & Spanish folk. I was often asked to play accompaniment while the local's would sing. Paco, a mountain goat shepherd with his gravelly heartfelt & often humourous voice & Gypsy Jose who had a sweet voice with such emotional depth it would penetrate through your soul!



To the men and women whose soul shines through their eyes and whose heart is on their lips. Like a Solea