Juan Rubio

Juan Rubio (born J. Dedrick Helm in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States), is an American-born composer and flamenco guitarist, a virtuoso in the modern Flamenco style. He is recognized as the first American-born Flamenco artist to garner acclaim and notoriety in Spain and throughout Europe. Originally a student of classical music Rubio began playing Flamenco guitar at the age of 20.

Biography
Rubio was born J. Dedrick Helm in New Brunswick, a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey in the United States. An only child, Rubio exhibited signs of artistic talent at a very young age. He adopted the stage name Juan Rubio as a byproduct of a nickname for his blond hair.

In 1979, at age 9, Rubio began his musical study with classical piano and transitioned to jazz piano/theory under jazz pianist Radam Schwartz in 1986. His guitar studies began in 1988, at age 18 with a private teacher, Christopher Corley, of the Guitar Institute of Technology in California. In 1992, Rubio began classical guitar studies with the celebrated guitarist Pierino Cippiloni, and a year later was fortunate enough to study under renowned classical guitar teacher Aaron Schearer at Duquesne University School of Music in Pittsburgh, PA.

He made his transition to flamenco guitar that same year after being discovered by Sabicas, and Mario Escudero protégé Dennis Koster at the American Institute of Guitar in New York City. Rubio studied traditional flamenco guitar with Mr. Koster at AIG for several years, eventually becoming his apprentice. He is accredited with transcribing the three-volume series of Dennis Koster’s flamenco guitar method “The Keys to Flamenco Guitar”, published and distributed by Mel Bay Publications.

In 1999, Rubio moved to Córdoba, Spain to begin his studies with Paco Serrano, winner of both the “Premio Ramón Montoya” and “Premio Manolo de Huelva” - the highest awards given for flamenco guitar. While living in Córdoba, Rubio had the rare opportunity to study intensively and personally with one of the most renowned flamenco guitarists in the world, Manolo Sanlúcar. The experience with Sanlúcar markedly influenced Rubio and is evidenced in his music today. Also contributing to his development as a Flamenco virtuoso were Pepe Romero and Manuel Barrueco, both of which he studied under while in Spain.

Rubio has twice appeared on Córdoba’s local television station Procono TV and was filmed and interviewed on the main television station of Andalucía, Canal Sur. He has been featured in various magazines and newspapers throughout Córdoba and currently collaborates with the Federación Provincial de Peñas Flamencas de Córdoba.

An internationally recognized artist, Rubio has performed throughout the United States, Spain, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, and Guatemala. Rubio's first recording, La Cruz, is a tribute to Córdoba but also showcases the full range of his musical influences, presenting modern flamenco guitar while remaining true to its traditional roots. La Cruz has received critical acclaim, most notably from flamenco critic Paco del Cid, columnist for Diario Córdoba. Rubio is currently composing a second recording for Universal Music Group, Spain featuring a full ensemble of musicians as well as flamenco singers David Pino and Angela Bautista.

Discography
La Cruz (2004)

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