In the Consuelo Araujonoguera Vallenata Legend Park, Jaime Luis Castañeda Campillo was elected Vallenato King of the 57th edition of the Vallenata Legend Festival, which was held in tribute to the maestro Iván Villazón.
The King performed the ride ‘If the guava tree will kill me’, by Alejandro Durán; the merengue La brasilera, by Rafael Escalona; the son ‘I had a love, by Freddy Peralta and the puya’ Déjala vení, by Nafer Durán, captivating the judging jury and the public with his talent and skill when playing the four airs of vallenato folklore.
Campillo was searching for the crown for several years, achieving this dream this May 4.
“Glory and honor to God because it is a dream come true, thanks to my friends and family who supported me and to all those who support this folklore,” Campillo said to the audience present in the Leyenda Vallenata park.
Jaime Luis was accompanied on the box by José Murgas and on the guacharaca by Jaider Daza.
The finalists were: Javier Rodrigo Álvarez Orozco, Jaime Luis Castañeda Campillo, Jairo Andrés de la Ossa Otero, Omar Alberto Hernández Brochero and Camilo Andrés Molina Luna.
The qualifying jury was made up of King Vallenato Álvaro Meza; the former Minister of Housing, Jonathan Malagón, the doctor Noé Martínez Cuello, Carlos Camargo and Roberto Gómez Pavajeau.
SEMIFINAL
The finalist accordion players qualified in the semifinal held at the Pedro Castro Monsalvo Livestock Fair coliseum.
The elimination of Juan David ‘El Pollito’ Herrera, who was one of the favorites to compete for the King Vallenato crown, was a surprise on the day, as he did in 1996 when he was the winner.