Vallenato , which originated in the Valle de Upar in northeastern Colombia, has roots in African, European, and native Colombian music; it uses native bamboo flutes, African-inspired drums, and German accordions, as well as other instruments, and has four rhythm styles: son and paseo , which are slower, and puya and merengue , which are more lively. Paseo , despite being slow, is the most popular rhythm.
Vives, like other popular vallenato artists, often adds keyboards, full drum sets, and other wind instruments. For many years the music was looked down upon in Colombia because it was associated with poor people and minority groups. However, Vives and other artists have brought it into the mainstream and have also introduced it to audiences around the world. The second of four sons of a doctor and a homemaker, his extended family also includes politicians and other members of Colombia's upper class.
Although his family is of Spanish descent, part of the 20 percent of Colombia's white minority, he grew up in a neighborhood made up largely of people of African and Native descent. Vives told Valdes-Rodriguez that this mix of cultures inspired his music: "I don't discriminate," he said.
I don't believe in differences between people. My music is the living proof of the equality of all people. Musically talented as a child, Vives was often asked to sing at family parties and also helped his church collect money by singing and playing guitar.
When Vives was a teenager his parents divorced, and he moved to Bogota with his mother. By the time he was 18 he was a professional musician, singing with a rock band that performed in night clubs.
He attended Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, studying publicity, and took nighttime theater classes at National University. Vives was performing in a club called Ramon Antigua one night in when a television producer saw his performance and asked if he would like to audition for a Colombian television show, Tiempo Sin Huella. Vives got the part and starred in a variety of telanovelas --prime-time Latin soap operas--over the next 15 years. He met his first wife, Margarita Rosa de Francisco, while working on the show Gallito Ramirez , and they married in The marriage did not last, however, and they divorced two years later.
His craftsmanship is a direct reflection of the vibrancy and emotion captured in his music. Carlos Vives used colored yarn, patches, seashells, cowhide, enamel pins, denim, beads, sea glass, ceramic tiles, velvet, and soda can tabs to decorate this jacket. Vives wore this jacket for photo shoots and live performances in support of the album. Yamaha acoustic guitar, embellished by Carlos Vives, c. Carlos Vives hand-decorated this guitar, which was pictured on the cover of his album, El Rock de Mi Pueblo.
Vives used paint, wood sticks, sea glass, seashells, fabric patches, bottle caps, artificial flowers, and stickers to adorn every surface of his guitar. Accordion player Egidio Cuadrado developed a friendship with Carlos Vives during their days performing together on the Colombian telenovela, Escalona. Cuadrado has performed with Vives ever since.
Vives decorated this accordion to match the aesthetic of El Rock de Mi Pueblo. Carlos Vives began a new era of music and television in , when he joined the cast of The Voice Colombia as a coach.
Vives has strong ties to the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. He has made them central characters in his lyrics and music videos, has sung in their ancient language and has invited them to participate in his concerts.
He has also spoken frequently about the great influence that the Afro-descendant culture has had on his music.
He has worked to preserve, protect and promote these special and endangered communities and the environment in which they live. Set for release on Nov.
0コメント