José María Ramos
Colombian accordionist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
José María Ramos Rodríguez[a] (1948–2020), also known as Chema Ramos, was a Colombian accordionist. He won the accordionist competition of the Vallenato Legend Festival in 1977 at the age of 28.
28 October 1948
José María Ramos | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Chema Ramos, El Décimo |
| Born | José María Ramos Rodríguez 28 October 1948 Urumita, Colombia |
| Died | 25 September 2020 (aged 71) Floridablanca, Colombia |
| Genres | Vallenato |
Biography
Early life
Ramos was born on 28 October 1948 in Urumita, in the Colombian department of La Guajira.[1] His grandfather was a musician, and his father José María Ramos Rojas taught him to play accordion.[2]
The Vallenato Legend Festival and later career
In 1976 Ramos won the semi-professional accordionist competition of the Vallenato Legend Festival.[3] In 1977 he won the professional accordionist competition, accompanied by Simón Herrera on caja and Abel Suárez on guacharaca,[4] defeating several competitors including Alberto Muegues, Miguel Ahumada, Ramón Vargas, Raúl "Chiche" Martínez, Rafael Salas, and Juancho Polo Valencia.[5] Ramos was 28 when he won, which made him the youngest winner of the competition at the time.[2] Because he was the tenth winner of the competition, he was given the nickname "El Décimo".[6]
Following his win, Ramos played in the conjunto of Carlos Lleras Araújo, and also recorded with artists including Iván Villazón, Poncho Zuleta, Silvio Brito, and Fabián Corrales.[1] He later formed a group called Las Glorias del Vallenato, with whom he was still playing at the Casa de la Cultura in Valledupar in 2016.[5][2]
Family and death
Ramos was married to Emilia Mercedes Navarro, with whom he had six sons and one daughter.[2] His eldest son José María "Chemita" Ramos Navarro won the accordionist competition of the Vallenato Legend Festival in 2000.[1] His son Edward José is an accordionist, and his son Alí José has played guacharaca with singers including Jorge Oñate, Diomedes Díaz, Fabián Corrales, and Jorge Celedón.[2]
Ramos died in hospital in Floridablanca on 25 September 2020.[2]
Notes
- In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ramos and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.