Gilberto Grácio
Encyclopedia
Gilberto Grácio is a famous Portuguese guitar maker, born in Lisbon on 12 May 1936. He is the son of João Pedro Grácio Junior and the grandson of João Pedro Grácio, both renowned luthiers. He started working in his father's workshop at the age of twelve.
The heir of a traditional art of Portuguese guitar
making that has passed through generations of the Grácio family, he will be the last of the Grácio luthiers, since his sons do not want to continue the tradition.
The Grácio family is considered to be one of the most important traditional guitar makers in Europe, and their contribution has helped develop the Portuguese guitar over the years. Their work together with that of the Paredes family reinvented the Lisbon guitar and created the Portuguese guitar of Coimbra.
Gilberto Grácio still works in his workshop in Lisbon, and in the past years he has devoted most of his time to teaching his art.
Two of his students will keep making guitars according to his family's tradition, under his supervision.
Amongst the famous performers and musicians who have bought and played his instruments are Carlos Paredes
, António Chainho
, Fernando Alvim, and Jimmy Page
.
The heir of a traditional art of Portuguese guitar
Portuguese guitar
The Portuguese guitar or Portuguese guitarra is a plucked string instrument with twelve steel strings, strung in six courses comprising two strings each. It is one of the few musical instruments to use Preston tuners. It is most notably associated with fado.-History:The origin of the Portuguese...
making that has passed through generations of the Grácio family, he will be the last of the Grácio luthiers, since his sons do not want to continue the tradition.
The Grácio family is considered to be one of the most important traditional guitar makers in Europe, and their contribution has helped develop the Portuguese guitar over the years. Their work together with that of the Paredes family reinvented the Lisbon guitar and created the Portuguese guitar of Coimbra.
Gilberto Grácio still works in his workshop in Lisbon, and in the past years he has devoted most of his time to teaching his art.
Two of his students will keep making guitars according to his family's tradition, under his supervision.
Amongst the famous performers and musicians who have bought and played his instruments are Carlos Paredes
Carlos Paredes
Carlos Paredes, ComSE, was a virtuoso Portuguese guitar player, born in Coimbra, son of the equally famous Artur Paredes. He is credited with popularising the medium internationally during the 20th century, being frequently considered to be the most talented Portuguese musician in the 20th century...
, António Chainho
António Chainho
António Chainho is a Portuguese fado guitarist. He has worked with many of the great names in fado music, like Hermínia Silva, Carlos do Carmo and José Afonso, and world music, like Paco de Lucía....
, Fernando Alvim, and Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
.