Edilio Paredes
Encyclopedia
Originally from the small country town of La Galana, near San Francisco de Macoris
, Edilio Paredes is one of the most influential figures in the development of the Dominican music tradition of bachata. In a career now spanning over 40 years, Edilio has
arranged and recorded lead guitar on well over a thousand tracks, accompanying some of bachata's most well known singers. His style
helped influence the emergence of bachata from its predecessor: bolero
.
Edilio picked up his first guitar at the age of three, and by the time he was eight had formed a group with his brother, Nelson, and
childhood friend Ramón Cordero, playing the music of Odilio Gonzalez
and Julio Jaramillo
, amongst others. At thirteen, he moved to the capital, Santo Domingo
, and found work at a music store owned by singer Cuco Valoy
, who also owned a record label. Eventually, Edilio started recording for him, and soon became one of the most sought after guitarists to record bolero campesino, later known as bachata.
After some time, he began recording for Radhames Aracena, the owner of Radio Guarachita, the only radio station in the
Dominican Republic
featuring guitar music, all of which was recorded by Aracena's own labels. It was during the 1970s, at
Radio Guarachita, that bachata was beginning to develop as its own musical genre. The güira
replaced the maracas
, and elements
of merengue
and son
, which were more upbeat, began to be incorporated. Being the principal arranger and guitarist of bachata
during this time, Edilio's influence was significant.
Even though he played such an important part in the creation of the bachata, Edilio Paredes does not receive the same national respect as
others such as Yomo Toro
of Puerto Rico
, or Francisco Repilado (Compay Segundo
) of Cuba
. He is acknowledged
within the music world, and is highly esteemed by the genre's marquee names.
Today, Paredes is a working musician; as a leading member of the groups Super Uba
and Puerto Plata
, he is bringing bachata to a whole new audience. He appears on a CD entitled Bachata Roja that was recently released. He was a part of the Bachata Roja tour with the likes of musicians El Chivo Sin Ley, Leonardo Paniagua
, an up and coming bachatero Joan Soriano.
San Francisco de Macorís
San Francisco de Macorís is a city in the Dominican Republic. It is also the capital of the Duarte Province. It has had a very active role in the shaping of Dominican history, as it is known as one of, if not the most, politically active cities in the country. It is located in the northeast portion...
, Edilio Paredes is one of the most influential figures in the development of the Dominican music tradition of bachata. In a career now spanning over 40 years, Edilio has
arranged and recorded lead guitar on well over a thousand tracks, accompanying some of bachata's most well known singers. His style
helped influence the emergence of bachata from its predecessor: bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
.
Edilio picked up his first guitar at the age of three, and by the time he was eight had formed a group with his brother, Nelson, and
childhood friend Ramón Cordero, playing the music of Odilio Gonzalez
Odilio González
Odilio González is a Puerto Rican singer.González was born in 1939 in the center of the island of Puerto Rico, in the small town of Lares. His charm, sweet voice and youthful good looks turned him into a popular child star after a series of early radio performances in the capital city of San...
and Julio Jaramillo
Julio Jaramillo
Julio Alfredo Jaramillo Laurido was a notable Ecuadorian "Pasillo" performer. Jaramillo performed throughout Latin America where he achieved fame performing and recording boleros, valses, pasillos, tangos and rancheras. He recorded more than 4,000 songs in total.He recorded his most famous song...
, amongst others. At thirteen, he moved to the capital, Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, and found work at a music store owned by singer Cuco Valoy
Cuco Valoy
Cuco Valoy is Dominican salsa and merengue singer. He is the father of Ramón Orlando with whom he formed the band Los Virtuosos...
, who also owned a record label. Eventually, Edilio started recording for him, and soon became one of the most sought after guitarists to record bolero campesino, later known as bachata.
After some time, he began recording for Radhames Aracena, the owner of Radio Guarachita, the only radio station in the
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
featuring guitar music, all of which was recorded by Aracena's own labels. It was during the 1970s, at
Radio Guarachita, that bachata was beginning to develop as its own musical genre. The güira
Güira
A güira is a percussion instrument from the Dominican Republic, generally used in merengue, bachata, and its subgenres, that sounds like a maraca or hi-hat but in fact is a sheet of metal—in practice, often from a five gallon oil can—evenly perforated with a nail, shaped into a cylinder or...
replaced the maracas
Maracás
Maracás is a town and municipality in the state of Bahia in the North-East region of Brazil.-References:...
, and elements
of merengue
Merengue music
Merengue is a type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It is popular in the Dominican Republic and all over Latin America. Its name is Spanish, taken from the name of the meringue, a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar...
and son
Son
A son is a male offspring; a boy or man in relation to his parents. The female analogue is a daughter.-Social issues regarding sons:In pre-industrial societies and some current countries with agriculture-based economies, a higher value was, and still is, assigned to sons rather than daughters,...
, which were more upbeat, began to be incorporated. Being the principal arranger and guitarist of bachata
during this time, Edilio's influence was significant.
Even though he played such an important part in the creation of the bachata, Edilio Paredes does not receive the same national respect as
others such as Yomo Toro
Yomo Toro
Victor Guillermo Toro is a guitarist and one of Puerto Rico's most famous cuatro players...
of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, or Francisco Repilado (Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo was a Cuban trova guitarist, singer and composer.-Biography:...
) of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. He is acknowledged
within the music world, and is highly esteemed by the genre's marquee names.
Today, Paredes is a working musician; as a leading member of the groups Super Uba
Super Uba
Super Uba is a popular singer and songwriter of traditional style Dominican bachata & merengue. Super Uba and his group are veterans of the Dominican bachata scene, and some consider them to be to the Dominican Republic what Buena Vista Social Club is to Cuba.The artist favors a traditional, down...
and Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata (musician)
Born in the resort town of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, José Cobles sings in a style reminiscent of the Dominican guitar tradition of the 1930s and 40s, when bolero, merengue, and son were all variations of the same Afro-Iberian fusion.Under the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas...
, he is bringing bachata to a whole new audience. He appears on a CD entitled Bachata Roja that was recently released. He was a part of the Bachata Roja tour with the likes of musicians El Chivo Sin Ley, Leonardo Paniagua
Leonardo Paniagua
Leonardo Panigua is one of the Dominican Republic's most popular bachata musicians. He emerged from obscurity to overnight stardom in the 1970s, when he recorded his first 45rpm record, "Amada, Amante" for Discos Guarachita....
, an up and coming bachatero Joan Soriano.