Joe Arroyo

Columbian singer Joe Arroyo was born in the tough Nariño district in Cartagena and began his performing career at the age of eight singing in the local brothels. His major break came at 16 when he was discovered by Julio Ernestro Estrada, bass player and well known director of popular Columbian band Fruko y Ses Tesos. Arroyo joined the band and became synonymous with them for the next ten years building his reputation among Columbian audiences. In 1981 Arroyo left Fruko y Ses Tesos and created his own band named La Verdad. He went on to become a household name in Columbia and one of the country's best loved Latin performers, particularly among salsa audiences. During his career he constantly battled with health problems, many of them brought on through drug abuse. He died from multiple organ failure in July 2011 whilst in hospital in Barreanquilla. He leaves behind a recording legacy of more than 20 albums featuring some of the finest salsa and Latin music recorded in modern times.

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