by Carol WrightOscar Lopez was born in Santiago, Chile, but left his native land in 1979 to further his musical career in Canada, which is now his home. He played in many bands and became proficient in a variety of musical styles. When he returned to focus on the Latin/flamenco style and its nylon-stringed classical guitar, he found he could incorporate electric guitar techniques to create his own dynamic fusion. Lopez's first album, Dancing on the Moon Contigo, was nominated for a Juno award. He then recorded for the Narada label, first offering a track on the compilation Gypsy Passion album, and then in 1997, the album Heat. Passionate Works followed a year later; Armando's Fire in August 2000.