Simón Díaz

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Simón Díaz
Simón Díaz en Boston.jpg
Simón Díaz during a 2005 concert in Boston, U.S.
Background information
Born (1928-08-08)August 8, 1928
Barbacoas, Guarico, Venezuela
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Caracas, Venezuela
Genres Venezuelan folk music
Occupation(s) Musician, singer, composer
Years active 1948–2007
Website http://www.simondiaz.com

Simón Narciso Díaz Márquez (August 8, 1928 – February 19, 2014) was a singer and Grammy Award-winning composer of Venezuelan music.

Career

Díaz endeavored to recover the folklore and musical traditions of the llanos, the Venezuelan plains. This style of music has since been performed by artists such as Argentina's Mercedes Sosa, Brazil's Caetano Veloso, Spain's Joan Manuel Serrat, Peru's Susana Baca, Puerto Rico's Danny Rivera, and Venezuelans Franco De Vita, Soledad Bravo, Juan Carlos Salazar, Carlos Baute and José Luis Rodríguez, among others.[1][2] Many of Diaz's works have been adapted by symphonies and choral ensembles throughout Venezuela,[3] as well as being incorporated into the orchestral and choral arrangements of conductors and composers of academic music.[4]

Artists from various other disciplines have utilized Díaz's work. For example, German choreographer Pina Bausch included some of Díaz’s songs in her work Nur Du. Also, the film director Pedro Almodóvar included Díaz's song "Tonada de Luna Llena" as part of the soundtrack for his film The Flower of My Secret, sung by the Brazilian artist Caetano Veloso.[1][2]

Díaz has also performed in theater, motion pictures and television. In the 1960s he became a comedian in Venezuela. He had the leading role in three plays, and in films like El Reportero[5] and Isla de sal;[6] has produced and hosted 12 different TV shows, all of them devised to promote Venezuelan music. One of these shows, Contesta por Tío Simón, was devoted to teaching popular culture to children. This children's show was on the air for 10 years, during which time Díaz's viewers began calling him "Uncle Simón".[1][7] Diaz had a daily radio show for twenty-five years which focused on folklore and Venezuelan music. He has recorded over 70 records[3][8] and CDs and has made innumerable performances throughout his career.[1][9]

Simón Díaz signature

Díaz is the author of "Caballo Viejo", which was recorded by the Gipsy Kings as the hit song "Bamboléo". His compositions have been performed by artists such as Plácido Domingo,[10] Ray Conniff,[11] Julio Iglesias,[12] Celia Cruz,[10] Rubén Blades,[10] Gilberto Santa Rosa,[10] Gipsy Kings,[10] Ivan Lins,[13] Joyce,[14] Cheo Feliciano,[15] Juan Gabriel,[10] María Dolores Pradera,[16] Martirio,[17] Tania Libertad,[18] Ry Cooder[19] and Devendra Banhart[1][10]

The Latin American TV channel A&E MUNDO produced a documentary dedicated to Díaz under its “Biography” program that honors Diaz's many contributions to Venezuelan culture, the program began airing in September 2004.[3]

After battling Alzheimer's disease for many years, he died on 19 February 2014.[20]

Discography

Serie Title Label
LP 6124 Parranda Criolla Palacio
LP 6128 Lila + Hugo + Simón: Música de la Película "Isla de Sal" Palacio
LP 6136 ¡Ya Llegó Simón! Palacio
LP 6146 De Parranda con Simón Palacio
LP 6154 Criollo y Sabroso Palacio
LP 6181 Caracha Negro Palacio
LP 6194 Gaitas y Parrandas con Simón Palacio
LP 6221 Simón En Salsa... En Gaita Palacio
LP 6253 Gaita 69 Palacio
LP 6273 Artistas Venezolanos Solamente Palacio
LP 6275 Gaita 70 Palacio
LP 6297 Gaita 71 Palacio
LPS 66299 Tonadas Palacio
L.P.S. 109 Navidad Criolla con el Quinto Criollo Palacio/Guarura
LPS 66333 La Gaita de las Cuñas: El Candidato Chévere ¡Vota por Él! Palacio/H.B
LPS 66345 Las Gaitas de Simón: Enemigo Público N°1 Palacio/H.B
LPS 66363 Las Gaitas de Simón: Culpable? Palacio/H.B
LPS 66384 Tonadas Vol.2 Palacio
LPS 66383 Las Gaitas de Simón: Cuñas, Locas, Borrachitos Palacio/H.B
LPS 66406 Las Gaitas de Simón Palacio/H.B
LPS 66407 Canciones Criollas Vol.3 Palacio
LPS 66430 Canciones y Tonadas Vol.4 Palacio
LPS 66479 Golpe y Pasaje: Caballo Viejo Palacio
LPS 66483 Música Folklórica y Popular de Venezuela en Contrapunto Palacio
LPS 66508 Tonadas Favoritas Palacio
LPS 66591 Sus Grandes Éxitos Palacio
LPS 2058 Amor Enguayabao Palacio/Rodven
LPS 2067 Cuenta y Canta Vol.1 Palacio
LPS 2068 Cuenta y Canta Vol.2 Palacio

Awards and recognition

Simón Díaz was awarded the highest recognition conferred by the Venezuelan state, "The Great Ribbon of the Liberator's Order". He was given honorary doctorate degrees by two major Venezuelan universities, Simón Rodríguez University[21] and Zulia’s Universidad Católica Cecilio Acosta.

On September 30, 2008, the Latin Grammy Awards announced that it would honor Díaz with a Lifetime Achievement Award, (El Premio del Consejo Directivo).[22] Diaz was awarded the 2008 Latin Recording Academy Trustees Award, presented by Venezuelan salsa singer Oscar D'León.[7]

References

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  2. 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found."His most celebrated songs include "Caballo Viejo", which became a smash hit in a crossover genre known as charanga vallenata, and "Bamboleo", recorded by the Gipsy Kings and Celia Cruz. His works have been performed and recorded by a who's whom of international music, from Plácido Domingo to Ivan Lins. Well into his 70s, Diaz maintains an active artistic life, and continues his performing and touring career with appearances throughout Latin America and the United States, including a slated performance in 2006 at Carnegie Hall."
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  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Lists details on 56 of Diaz's albums
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Caballo Viejo recorded by Conniff in his album, Fantástico! 1983 Brazilian release CBS-138578
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  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Joyce. Ivan Lins, Cheo Feliciano
  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Joyce, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cheo Feliciano, Luis Enrique, Danny Rivera, Ivan Lins, Joan Manuel Serrat
  16. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Pradera performs El becerrito, written by Simon Diaz
  17. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.link
  18. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Libertad performs Caballo Viejo on her album Amar Amando
  19. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Celia Cruz, Plácido Domingo, Ry Cooder and the Gipsy Kings
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External links