Biography
Who is Lluís Llach?
Early life and career beginnings
Lluís Llach i Grande was born in Girona, Spain, on May 7, 1948. He grew up in Verges, a village on the Costa Brava. He became a prominent representative of the nova cançó movement, which used music to defy the dictatorship of Francisco Franco by singing in Catalan.
During the Franco regime, the Catalan language and cultural expressions faced strict bans. Because of his politically charged music, Llach left Spain and lived in voluntary exile in Paris until the dictator died.
Musical style and famous works
Lluís Llach developed a songwriting style that evolved from basic early compositions to complex harmonic and melodic arrangements. He played the guitar using simple chords and showed a strong knowledge of European song traditions as a pianist. He also incorporated elements of Baroque dances and salsa piano patterns into his music.
His most famous song, L'Estaca, was released in 1968. It became an unofficial anthem for the Catalan independence movement, as well as several other political movements around the world, including the Tunisian Revolution and Solidarność in Poland.
Political career and activism
Beyond his music, Lluís Llach engaged heavily in politics as a supporter of Catalan independence and the left-wing party ERC. He stood as an independent candidate in the September 2015 parliamentary elections for the Junts pel Sí alliance. He headed the list for Girona and won a seat in the Catalan Parliament, serving from September 2015 until January 2018.
In later years, he continued his political involvement by endorsing other pro-independence groups and speaking out on public issues. He also pursued other ventures, working as a wine producer and composing incidental music for theatre productions after stepping back from his main music career with a farewell concert in 2007.
Birthday and age
Lluís Llach was born on May 7, 1948, which makes Lluís 78 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Lluís shares the date with 23 other famous people.
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