Oscar Lopez

Santiago, Chile, marked the birthplace of Oscar Lopez, who departed his homeland in 1979 seeking to advance his musical path in Canada, the country that later became his permanent residence. Participation in numerous bands there helped him master an array of musical genres. Renewed attention to Latin and flamenco traditions, centered on the nylon-stringed classical guitar, showed him how electric guitar methods could be woven in to produce a distinctive, high-energy fusion all his own.

His debut album, Dancing on the Moon Contigo, received a Juno award nomination. Work with the Narada label followed, starting with a contribution to the compilation Gypsy Passion and continuing with the 1997 release Heat. Passionate Works appeared the subsequent year, and Armando's Fire arrived in August 2000.