Spaniards Bid Emotional Farewell to Guitar Legend

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<p>Hundreds gathered to mourn the death of virtuoso guitarist Paco de Lucia as his body returned to his hometown in Spain's deep south.</p>

March 1, 2014, 8:25 AM EST / Updated March 1, 2014, 2:02 PM EST

Red carnations are thrown on a hearse carrying the coffin of Spanish flamenco legend Paco de Lucia as his body returns to his hometown in Algeciras, southern Spain, early Saturday. De Lucia, one of the world's greatest guitarists who dazzled audiences with his lightning-speed flamenco rhythms and finger work, died in Mexico on Tuesday at 66. He is due to be buried in Algeciras Saturday.

Image: — A photo of Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia sits next to his coffin during an overnight wake at the town hall in Algeciras, southern Spain, early Saturday.Laura Leon / AP

Image: People watch the arrival of the coffin of Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucia for his wake, outside the townhall of Algeciras — People watch the arrival of the coffin of Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucia outside the town hall in Algeciras early Saturday. The virtuoso, who was as happy playing seemingly impossible syncopated flamenco rhythms as he was improvising jazz or classical guitar, helped to legitimise flamenco in Spain itself at a time when it was shunned by the mainstream.JON NAZCA / Reuters

Image: Paco de Lucia funeral service — A picture of Spanish flamenco legend Paco de Lucia sits next to his coffin at the Town Hall in Algeciras, southern Spain.JORGE ZAPATA / EPA

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