Iván Villazón

Iván Villazón, born on October 25, 1959, in Valledupar, Colombia, is one of the most respected voices in vallenato music. Growing up in a household filled with music, he was inspired by the legendary artists his father invited to family gatherings. His passion for vallenato led him to form a band with childhood friend and accordionist Gonzalo "El Cocha" Molina. After studying law for four years, Iván Villazón fully committed to music in 1984, releasing his debut album El Arco Iris with Alfredo Gámez. He later achieved greater success with albums like Una Voz, Un Rey (1985) and Los Virtuosos (1986) with Raúl "El Chiche" Martínez. His collaborations with Molina in the late 1980s resulted in hits like "Por ti Valledupar" and "No espero más." Iván Villazón's career reached new heights in 1990 with the album La Compañía, recorded with accordionist Beto Villa, featuring hits like "El Perdón" and "La Suegra." Over the years, he worked with other notable accordionists such as Franco Argüelles and Saúl Lallemand, producing acclaimed albums like Un Mar de Lágrimas (1993) and El Mundo al Revés (1999). He remains a beloved figure in vallenato, known for his emotional delivery and deep connection to the genre’s roots. In the 2020s, Iván Villazón partnered with accordionist Tuto López and released albums like 2023's De Luisiana a Valledupar, which blended vallenato with Dixie music, and 2024's Un Mundo Real.

Please enable Javascript to view this page competely.