Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999), a virtuoso pianist. Despite being blind from an early age, he achieved great success. Rodrigo is considered to be among the composers most responsible for popularizing classical guitar music in the twentieth century, and his Concierto de Aranjuez is one of the pinnacles of the Spanish music and guitar concerto repertoire.
In 1991, Rodrigo was raised to the nobility by King Juan Carlos; he was given the title Marqués de los Jardines de Aranjuez. He received the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award - Spain's highest civilian honor - in 1996. He was named Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 1998.