Rafael Salas (musician)
Colombian accordionist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rafael Antonio Salas Mendoza[a] (1952–2011) was a Colombian vallenato accordionist. He was crowned vallenato king in 1979 for winning the professional accordionist competition of the Vallenato Legend Festival.
17 September 1952
Rafael Salas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rafael Antonio Salas Mendoza 17 September 1952 El Plan, La Jagua del Pilar, Colombia |
| Died | 19 April 2011 (aged 58) Valledupar, Colombia |
| Genres | Vallenato |
Biography
Salas was born on 17 September 1952 in El Plan, a town in the municipality of La Jagua del Pilar in the Colombian department of La Guajira.[1] His father Toño Salas and uncle Emiliano Zuleta were both renowned vallenato accordionists.[1]
Salas played the accordion, the guacharaca, and the caja.[2] He competed in the amateur accordionist competition of the Vallenato Legend Festival in 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1976.[2] In 1979, Salas was crowned vallenato king for winning the professional accordionist competition of the festival; in the final he defeated Alberto Villa and Florentino Montero.[3]
Salas had four children with his wife Ruth Plata.[1] He died on 19 April 2011 in Valledupar.[1][b]
Notes
- In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Salas and the second or maternal family name is Mendoza.