Guitarist and teacher Mel Agen began playing at age fifteen and by the age of twenty was doing lead in bands and also doing radio work. He later moved into solo guitar work in the popular American finger styles, then began teaching these guitar styles.

The early 1960's saw Agen making headway in the classical guitar forms and soon playing classical and flamenco in clubs and concerts in the United States and Canada. The '70s began with the publication of Mel's first book (now out of print) on flamenco styles, followed by a series of books called Secrets of American Fingersyle Guitar, as well as many classical and flamenco compositions and arrangements.