Pedro Ramayá Beltrán
Colombian flautist and songwriter (1930–2026)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pedro Agustín Beltrán Castro[a] (5 February 1930 – 11 April 2026), also known as Pedro Ramayá Beltrán[b] or simply Ramayá, was a Colombian flautist and songwriter. He is known for his skill at playing the flauta de millo. Beltrán was a member of Efraín Mejía's band La Cumbia Soledeña, and later led his own group, La Cumbia Moderna de Soledad.
5 February 1930
Pedro Ramayá Beltrán | |
|---|---|
Beltrán in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | King of the flauta de millo[1] |
| Born | Pedro Agustín Beltrán Castro 5 February 1930 Talaigua Nuevo, Colombia |
| Died | 11 April 2026 (aged 96) Barranquilla, Colombia |
| Instruments | Flauta de millo |
Life and career
Pedro Agustín Beltrán Castro was born on 5 February 1930 in Patico, Talaigua Nuevo, in the Colombian department of Bolívar.[1] According to Beltrán, his father had 46 other children.[2]
As a child Beltrán learned to play flauta de millo, a traditional flute from the Colombian Caribbean.[3] He formed his first band at the age of 12.[1] After his military service he joined La Cumbia Soledeña, the group led by Efraín Mejía.[2] Beltrán later left the group to form his own orchestra, La Cumbia Moderna de Soledad, which included guitar, brass, and percussion alongside the flauta de millo.[4]
Beltrán got the nickname "Ramayá" in 1975 after recording a cumbia version of the song "Ramaya", originally by Afric Simone.[2] He has performed several times at the Barranquilla Carnival, and in 2002 was declared its Rey Momo.[3][2] Beltrán has written over 300 songs, including notably "Mi Flauta", "La Rebuscona", "La Clavada", and "Mico Ojón Pelúo".[2] In 2023 he was awarded the "lifetime achievement award for bearers of cultural heritage" (Spanish: Premio vida y obra a portadores del patrimonio cultural) by the Colombian Ministry of Culture.[5]
Beltrán died in Barranquilla on 11 April 2026, at the age of 96.[6]
Notes
- In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Beltrán and the second or maternal family name is Castro.
- Sometimes rendered Pedro Ramayá or Ramayá Beltrán.