Ottmar Liebert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ottmar Liebert
Liebert in 2018
Background information
Born	(1959-02-01) 1 February 1959 (age 66) Cologne, West Germany
Genres	New-age smooth jazz classical flamenco
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Higher Octave Epic Sony 33rd Street

Ottmar Liebert (born February 1, 1959) is a talented German musician. He is famous for playing the guitar and creating music inspired by Spanish sounds. Ottmar Liebert has been nominated for a Grammy Award five times. He has also earned many Gold and Platinum awards for his albums. These awards mean his music has sold millions of copies in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. His first album, Nouveau Flamenco, released in 1990, sold over a million copies in the U.S.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Ottmar Liebert was born in Cologne, West Germany, on February 1, 1959. His father was Chinese-German, and his mother was Hungarian. As a child, Ottmar traveled a lot with his family across Europe and Asia.

He started playing the classical guitar when he was 11 years old. At 14, he began learning flamenco guitar. He found a flamenco record in a store and was inspired. Before moving to the United States, he played rock music in Germany. He lived in Boston for a few years, performing in rock clubs. In 1986, Liebert moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There, he began to develop his unique musical style.

Liebert has mentioned several musicians who influenced him. These include guitarists like Carlos Santana and Paco de Lucía. He also learned from artists who taught him about space and how to use different sounds in music.

Ottmar Liebert's Music Career

A Lester DeVoe guitar, like one owned by Ottmar Liebert

In 1988, Ottmar Liebert formed his band, Luna Negra, which means "black moon." That same year, he recorded an album called Marita: Shadows and Storms. He sold the first thousand copies at an art gallery in Santa Fe. When radio stations started playing his music, people loved it.

A record company called Higher Octave Music then released a new version of the album. They renamed it Nouveau Flamenco in 1990. This album became a huge success, selling over two million copies in the United States.

After his first album, Liebert released many more successful albums. These included Borrasca (1991), Solo Para Ti (1992), and The Hours Between Night + Day (1993). All three of these albums also earned Gold awards for their sales. His international success continued with ¡Viva! (1995) and Opium (1996). Both of these albums reached Platinum status in the U.S. and Latin America.

Ottmar Liebert has recorded with Luna Negra since 1989. The band members have changed over time, but bassist Jon Gagan has always been a part of it. Since 1990, Ottmar Liebert has released 25 albums. These include live recordings, Christmas albums, and 15 albums of new music. He has earned 38 Gold and Platinum awards in the U.S. alone.

In 2006, Liebert contributed his song "This Spring Release 10,000 Butterflies" to a special album. This project, called Artists for Charity - Guitarists 4 the Kids, helped underprivileged children.

Understanding Nouveau Flamenco

Ottmar Liebert calls his musical style "Nouveau Flamenco." He explained in an interview that he needed a name for his music when he signed with a record label. Even though his music has flamenco elements, it's not like traditional flamenco. His style focuses more on melody and simpler forms. Since his music wasn't jazz, rock, or classical, he felt "flamenco" was the closest word people would understand.

Some people criticized Liebert for using the term "Nouveau Flamenco." They felt his music didn't follow traditional flamenco forms. Some thought it was a way to market his music with the rising "Flamenco Nuevo" style. This new style saw flamenco artists adding influences from Latin America and jazz. Even Paco de Lucia, a famous flamenco guitarist, initially called Liebert's music "a degeneration, a caricature of flamenco." However, Paco de Lucia's record company later mentioned Liebert in their promotions, suggesting a change in view.

Personal Life

Ottmar Liebert has lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, since 1986. In May 2006, he became a Zen monk. He was ordained by Dennis Genpo Merzel at the Kanzeon Zen Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Awards and Achievements

Ottmar Liebert's albums have received many awards for their sales:

• Nouveau Flamenco (1990): Platinum in the US, 14x Platinum in US/Latin, Platinum in Australia and New Zealand, Gold in Canada and Mexico.
• Poets & Angels: Music 4 the Holidays (1990): 2x Platinum in US/Latin.
• Borrasca (1991): Gold in the US, 4x Platinum in US/Latin.
• Solo Para Ti (1992): Gold in the US, 2x Platinum in US/Latin, Gold in Canada.
• The Hours Between Night + Day (1993): Gold in the US, 2x Platinum in US/Latin, Gold in Canada and New Zealand.
• Euphoria (1995): Gold in US/Latin.
• ¡Viva! (1995): Platinum in US/Latin.
• Opium (1996): Platinum in US/Latin.
• Leaning Into the Night (Inclinado en la Noche) (1997): Gold in US/Latin.
• Innamorare: Summer Flamenco (1999): Gold in US/Latin.
• Nouveau Flamenco: 1990–2000 Special Tenth Anniversary Edition (2000): Platinum in US/Latin.

Discography

Ottmar Liebert has released many albums throughout his career. Here are some of his studio albums:

Studio Albums

Other Releases

Ottmar Liebert has also released compilation albums, singles, and appeared on other artists' songs. He has produced albums and released videos of his performances.

See also

In Spanish: Ottmar Liebert para niños

• Johannes Linstead
• List of ambient music artists