Vincente Carrillo Luthier
Ever since those days during the 18th century when Vicente Carrillo's ancestors started making guitars until today, guitar making has never stopped in the little town of the "Manchuela Conquense" called Casasimarro and as far back as the 19th century, the town was known with the nickname of "El pueblo de las Guitarras" the town of the guitars.
There are a few details that back up the contribution made by Vicente Carrillo's family to the world of the guitar since he is the seventh link in a chain started by Alfonso Anselmo Alarcon who learned to make guitars while travelling for some time in Andalucia, specifically Granada.
ALFONSO ANSELMO ALARCÓN, born in 1744 was the first one known to have worked as a guitar maker. A document in the National Historic archives, chapter 35,752 page 17, reads "Alfonso Anselmo Alarcón, elementary language teacher, who is actually practicing the profession of guitar maker, is attending to a court case in Granada…"
After him, his son, Juan de Mata Alarcón was the one who continued with the guitar making profession. But his success was in having all his children work on the same craft: Pedro Julián (1801-1885), Felipe (1803-18..?), Anselmo (1808-1883) y Victoriano (1814-1888), and Agustina (1810- 18..?), who married Felipe Manuel Carrillo (1807-18..?) being them the starting point of the Carrillo Saga.
BLAS CARRILLO ALARCÓN (1834-1919), The son of Felipe Manuel and Agustina, also known as with the nick name "Abuelo Moreno" (the dark haired grandfather), was the first guitar maker in Casasimarro who's popularity transcended the limits of the city. Blas, from his very small shop at 58 Concepción Street, as written on his label, was able to spread the popularity and love for the guitar throughout Castilla-La Mancha. Also in his shop, one of the most nationally famous guitar makers of the times was formed, his son Vicente Carrillo López, is referenced by Domingo Prat in his book "Spain's Guitars and Guitar makers" with the following: "…in Casasimarro in 1888 there are a few guitar makers among which we can find Blas Carrillo Alarcon, without a doubt, the most versed in the craft"
VICENTE CARRILLO LÓPEZ (1881-1962) rubbed elbows with the most famous guitar makers of his time, being good friends with two of the most renowned pillars of the Madrid school, Domingo Esteso López and Manuel Ramírez. In 1929 he decides to exhibit his guitars at the Seville International Fair when he perceives a group of people approaching him in a subdued uproar. All of a sudden, Queen Victoria, wife of Alfonso XIII approaches him, surrounded by bodyguards, inquiring about the price of his guitars. Immediately and with a trembling voice he exclaims to the Queen: "Your Majesty, please accept a gift from a humble guitar maker" and gives her a guitar. The news spread very quickly and he sold all of his guitars to a local merchant, witness to the royal exchange. This anecdote was a very popular one at the time when reference was made to the guitars from Casasimarro. In his label he maintains his Concepcion 58 address and adds the reference to the Award in the national craftsmanship exposition. Manuel González Ruano, in his writings from Frankfurt, Germany writes: "Vicente Carrillo López reached such popularity in his work that people went from everywhere, especially from Andalucía, to acquire his guitars".
VICENTE CARRILLO CANTOS (1926-1971) the sixth generation since the Alfonso Anselmo and is the fourth of the Carrillo saga but dies at the young age of 44 years old. He was able to extend his reach marketwise, not only to Castilla-La Mancha or all of Spain but was the first one to reach international markets, all the way from Japan to the USA and from Europe to South America. For this reason, in 1970, he was given the title, at a national level, of "Distinguished Craftsman".
GABRIELA CASAS FORNIER (1928-2005), at her husband's passing, takes the helm of the shop, and with the 17 workers at the time keeps the name recognition and the label that now reads "The Widow of Vicente Carrillo". In 1997, she was given by the government of Castilla-La Mancha the award of "Master Craftsman". Showing her love and devotion for her native land, she frequently participated in expositions and regional fairs like FARCAMA.
