Rafael Amador Dies — One of the Founders of Flamenco Fusion and the Soul of the Legendary Band Pata Negra
Spanish musician Rafael Amador Fernández, an outstanding guitarist, composer and one of the key figures in the history of modern Spanish music, has passed away. Rafael Amador died in Seville at the age of 65. His family confirmed the news. The musician was hospitalized at Virgen del Rocío Hospital, where his closest relatives were with him during his final hours. The official cause of death has not been disclosed.
Rafael Amador was born in Seville in 1960 and grew up surrounded by music. In the late 1970s, he found himself at the center of a musical revolution that permanently transformed traditional flamenco. Together with his brother Raimundo Amador and singer-songwriter Kiko Veneno, he became part of the band Veneno, a project far ahead of its time that had a profound impact on the Spanish music scene. Musicians from this circle also took part in the recording of Camarón de la Isla’s iconic album La leyenda del tiempo, which marked a turning point in the history of flamenco.
Rafael Amador gained widespread recognition as the co-founder of Pata Negra, a band formed in the early 1980s. The group became a symbol of musical fusion, blending flamenco, blues and rock into a unique sound later known as flamenco fusion or gypsy rock. Albums such as Pata Negra, Guitarras callejeras and especially Blues de la frontera are considered classics and remain among the most important Spanish records of the 20th century. The band’s music reached audiences far beyond Spain and influenced several generations of musicians.
After the breakup of the classic Pata Negra lineup in the late 1980s, Rafael Amador continued his career, performing under the same name and releasing solo work. His music was marked by creative freedom, experimentation and a deep connection to Andalusian roots. Despite periods away from the spotlight, Amador remained a major figure in Spanish culture and continued to take part in projects linked to the contemporary flamenco scene.
In recent years, the musician lived in Seville, rarely giving interviews and avoiding public exposure, yet his contribution to Spanish music was never questioned. Following the news of Rafael Amador’s death, fellow musicians and fans shared messages of mourning, describing him as a visionary artist without genre boundaries and a performer who managed to bring street guitar sounds to international stages.
With the passing of Rafael Amador, Spain has lost not only a musician, but one of the artists who changed the language of flamenco, turning it into a living and open dialogue with the world.
