Award-winning Colombian vallenato star Jorge Oñate passed away on February 28, 2021.
Jorge Antonio Oñate González was born on March 31, 1949 in Los Robles La Paz, Colombia. The singer-songwriter became one of the most famous vallenato artists in Colombia. He recorded numerous albums between 1968 and 2008.
Jorge Oñate was known as El Jilguero de América (the goldfinch of America) and El Ruiseñor del Cesar (the nightingale of El Cesar).
Gabriel Abaroa, Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy released a statement about Jorge Oñate: “Jorge Oñate, “The Mockingbird of the Americas,” was one of the most important composers and interpreters of vallenato — a successful, popular and authentic genre of Colombian music.
Oñate marked a before and after in the genre. He became the first vallenato artist to focus exclusively on vocal performance: before him, musicians sang while playing the accordion at the same time.
Throughout his extensive career, Oñate earned great fame and commercial success. He was a mentor and friend to many of the genre’s performers, as well as an active member of the vallenato community and an advocate for the rights of composers in Colombia.
He received the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from The Latin Recording Academy, and several of his works received Latin GRAMMY nominations.
His performances leave a cultural legacy for the genre that will continue to inspire the next generation of music makers. We deeply regret his passing. We extend our respect and deepest condolences to his family, his fans and all of Colombia.”
[headline image credit: Jorge Oñate, The Latin Recording Academy/Photographer: Denise Truscello/Getty Images]
Author: World Music Central News Room
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