José Ángel Hevia Velasco, known professionally as Hevia (born October 11, 1967 in Villaviciosa, Asturias), is a Spaniard bagpiper – specifically, an Asturian gaita player. He commonly performs with his sister, Maria José, on drums. In 1992 he was awarded first prize for solo bagpipes at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Brittany.
Possibly his most recognisable composition is the 1999 piece Busindre Reel, from his first album Tierra de Nadie. Hevia is known for helping invent a special brand of MIDI electronic bagpipes, which he is often seen playing live, his suffering of asthma limiting his capacity to play the gaita for a whole concert. The instrument was developed with Alberto Arias (pupil and computer programmer) and the electronic technician Miguel Dopico.
Two of Hevia's tracks, La Línea Trazada and El Garrotin (single release), appeared on the cross-platform video game Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense. His music also features in Walt Disney World at Epcot, just before the nightly IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks show.
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