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Joaquín Rodrigo was a Spanish composer and virtuoso pianist, celebrated as one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Spanish music. Despite losing his sight at age three, he achieved international acclaim, particularly for his Concierto de Aranjuez, which remains one of the most beloved and frequently performed guitar concertos worldwide. His music masterfully blends neoclassical forms with vibrant Spanish folk idioms and impressionistic textures.Born in Sagunto, Valencia, Spain. Contracted diphtheria at age three, resulting in near-total blindness. Studied composition in Paris under Paul Dukas. Married Turkish pianist Victoria Kamhi in 1933. Composed Concierto de Aranjuez in 1939. Appointed Professor of Music History at Madrid's Complutense University in 1947. Named Marqués de los Jardines de Aranjuez by King Juan Carlos I in 1991. Died in Madrid at age 97.

• Rodrigo became almost completely blind at age three after contracting diphtheria, composing throughout his life using Braille and dictation to his wife.
• His marriage to Victoria Kamhi (a Sorbonne-educated pianist) was pivotal; she abandoned her career to manage his affairs and transcribe his Braille compositions into musical notation.
• Despite the immense popularity of Concierto de Aranjuez, Rodrigo received no royalties from its most famous adaptation, Miles Davis's "Sketches of Spain," due to contractual complexities.
• He was granted a diplomatic passport by the Spanish government in 1940 to return from Germany to Spain during WWII, facilitated by conductor Conrado del Campo.
• In 1991, King Juan Carlos I elevated him to the Spanish nobility as the 1st Marqués de los Jardines de Aranjuez, honoring his cultural impact.
• His cause of death in 1999 was attributed to natural causes following a prolonged period of declining health.