Antonio Raya Ferrer (b. 1980) is the son of Antonio Raya Pardo, one of Granada's most renowned luthiers. Antonio Raya Ferrer's roots also connect him with another of Granada leading families of Spanish guitar makers. His mother, Pilar Ferrer, is one of the daughters of Eduardo Ferrer, whose lineage goes back five generations to Benito Ferrer (1845-1925), the founder of the Granada school, and the luthier who made Segovia's first guitar.
Antonio's father is one of the few living members on Summerfield's list of the most important concert classical guitar makers since 1800, and he is also one of a few luthiers to whom Luis F. Leal Pinar devotes an entire chapter in his book "Guitarreros de Andalucia" (2004). Antonio literally grew up in his father’s and grandfather’s workshops, surrounded by saw dust and shavings from exotic woods, and the tools of the craft. When I decided to become a guitar maker, he explains, it was easy for me to follow my father’s explanations, as I had watched different parts of the process from as early as I can remember.
Antonio Raya Ferrer's classical guitars reflect this proud heritage. Although he has been working with his father since he was 14 years old, he has been building flamenco and classical guitars under his own label since 1997. At this point the quality of his instruments, rival those of his father.