José Ángel Hevia Velasco was born in Villaviciosa, Asturias (Spain) in 1967. He first came into contact with the bagpipes when he was four years old during a procession in Amandi when he was with his grandfather. It was there that the image of a man and his bagpipes had an impact on the very young José Ángel. The unity between the pipe player, his music and the instrument seemed magical to him. Hevia then began bagpipe classes three times a week after school. He took the bus to Gijon, where Armando Ferdandez taught him in the traditional style and then accompanied him back to the bus.