The singer Rafa Pérez has been characterized as one of the artists of the vallenato genrewho despite having started his career at the time of the so-called ‘New Wave’, was inclined to highlight traditional vallenato and that is what he has been doing for several years when he ventured as a soloist after leaving the Kvrass Group.
Recently on his social networks he published a video singing the song ‘I would give everything for you’, authored by Jorge Celedón and immortalized in the voice of Patricia Teherán. Likewise, he participated in a collaboration with Fello Zabaleta on a tribute to Beto Zabaleta.
In dialogue with EL PILÓN, the musician expressed his desire to continue working to prevail the traditional vallenato genre with a recent motivation such as the recognition of the Congo de Oro at the Barranquilla Carnival Orchestra Festival for his musical career and the fact that ‘Dele que dele’ was the song of this holiday.
“Being recognized by the Barranquilla Carnival, which also includes the traditions of the Colombian Caribbean, is something significant. They recognized me for my career with a Golden Congo and my contribution was ‘Dele que dele’ to the party. That fills me with motivation to continue working, believing in our culture and idiosyncrasy, that our music is relevant, can transcend and carry positive messages to all humanity.d,” he said.
Rafa Pérez also referred to the success of the DVD ‘Mi Mejor Versión’, recorded live on September 22 at the Leyenda Vallenata park in Valledupar, which included songs such as ‘Dele que dele’ and ‘Parafernalia’ and which It has opened new doors at the national level.
“My artistic career has experienced a before and after since September 22 in the Leyenda Vallenata park because in that concert we managed to fulfill many dreams“Not only mine and my team, but many people who longed to see our folklore dressed up and thank God we managed to hold an impeccable event.”he expressed.
As a musician, he feels that he has climbed one more step in folklore in addition to what he had previously achieved with ‘Rafa Pérez Canta Vallenato’ and his tribute to the composers. At the moment, Rafa Pérez has his goal set on the edition of the Vallenata Legend Festival, where he will surely perform songs by Iván Villazón as honoree of the 57th edition of the folkloric and cultural contest.
“For me it is a pride that this year the honoree is Iván Villazón because he is the midpoint of the generations: older people and young people like him and that is to exalt him and shout it to the world. “I know Villazón’s musical career and he is my favorite singer par excellence”highlighted Rafa Pérez.
CONTROVERSIES IN EL VALLENATO
Rafa Pérez referred once again to the controversy that was generated in vallenato in recent days and which featured Mono Zabaleta and Omar Gelesafter he did not agree with the price the composer charged for a song.
The interpreter of ‘Dele que dele’ stressed that “the composer is the basis of the industry” and that it should be given the value it deserves because it is “the raw material that everyone eats: producers, recordists, arrangers, performers, media and businessmen”.
SONGS TO TRIBUTE TO WOMEN
In it International Women’s Day, Rafa Pérez sang in a Valledupar nightclub paying tribute to the female gender with the songs ‘My girlfriend woman’, ‘Parafernalia’, ‘La dueña de mi alma’ and ‘She is the one who commands’, among others.
BY: LUCÍA MENDOZA CUELLO/EL PILÓN.