Wilfrido Vargas
Encyclopedia
Wilfrido Radamés Vargas Martínez (born April 24, 1949) was born in Altamira
, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
.
He was surrounded by musical influences; namely, his father Ramón, an accordionist and guitarist
, and his mother Bienvenida, a flute player and guitarist. Vargas began his musical studies early, attending the Municipal Academy of Music beginning at age 10.
He has been a trumpeter and a vocalist, but has also arranged, composed, and led his band, and is also a producer.
Alongside many Latin music super stars, he performed during the 1979 music festival
Havana Jam
.
Wilfrido acted in the 1989 film "Que viva el merengue y la lambada".
. And in 1993 decorated by the Dominican president Joaquín Balaguer
with the Order of Christopher Columbus
in the Knight grade, alongside the Dominican musicians Jorge Taveras, Manuel Tejada and Julio Gautreaux for their contribution to the development and divulgation of the national music.
For the telenovela
Bellisima
, Wilfrido performed the theme song, "Amor Casual" and also performed the song "Que Sera" for the 1997 film Out to Sea
.
Vargas participated in 2007 at the Colombian version
of the X Factor
, as the groups mentor.
Today Vargas is one of the best-known artists in America with hit songs such as "El Africano" (written by Calixto Ochoa), "Abusadora", "Comején", "A Mover la Colita", "El Baile del Perrito" and "Volveré".
As of 2010, he lives in Colombia.
Altamira, Puerto Plata
Altamira is a town in the Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic.The town's name is the subject of at least two different origin traditions...
, Puerto Plata, 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...
.
He was surrounded by musical influences; namely, his father Ramón, an accordionist and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, and his mother Bienvenida, a flute player and guitarist. Vargas began his musical studies early, attending the Municipal Academy of Music beginning at age 10.
He has been a trumpeter and a vocalist, but has also arranged, composed, and led his band, and is also a producer.
1970's
He began his career with the band "Wilfrido Vargas y sus Beduinos" by recording his first album in 1974.Alongside many Latin music super stars, he performed during the 1979 music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
Havana Jam
Havana Jam
Havana Jam was a three-day music festival that took place at the Karl Marx Theater, in Havana, Cuba, on 2-4 March, 1979. It was sponsored by Bruce Lundvall, the president of Columbia Records, Jerry Masucci, the president of Fania Records, and the Cuban Ministry of Culture.The festival included, on...
.
1980's
During the 1980s he had international commercial success with songs such as: "El Barbarazo", "El Jardinero", "La Medicina", and "El Loco y La Luna".Wilfrido acted in the 1989 film "Que viva el merengue y la lambada".
1990's
He was nominated in 1991 for the 33rd Grammy Awards in the Best Tropical Latin Performance for his album Animation. He won a "Gaviota de Plata" (Silver Seagull) in the 1992 Viña del Mar International Song FestivalViña del Mar International Song Festival
The Viña del Mar International Song Festival is a music festival held annually during February since 1960 in Viña del Mar, Chile. It is considered the most important musical event in Latin America....
. And in 1993 decorated by the Dominican president Joaquín Balaguer
Joaquín Balaguer
Joaquín Antonio Balaguer Ricardo was the President of the Dominican Republic from 1960 to 1962, from 1966 to 1978, and again from 1986 to 1996.-Early life and introduction to politics:...
with the Order of Christopher Columbus
Order of Christopher Columbus
The Order of Christopher Columbus is an order of the Dominican Republic. It was established on 21 July 1937. The Head of State confer the order, by advice of the council of the order, both to civilians and military personnel to recognize services....
in the Knight grade, alongside the Dominican musicians Jorge Taveras, Manuel Tejada and Julio Gautreaux for their contribution to the development and divulgation of the national music.
For the telenovela
Telenovela
A telenovela is a limited-run serial dramatic programming popular in Latin American, Portuguese, and Spanish television programming. The word combines tele, short for televisión or televisão , and novela, a Spanish or Portuguese word for "novel"...
Bellisima
Bellisima
Bellisima was a Venezuelan telenovela that was produced by and broadcast on Venevisión. The series lasted 187 episodes, and was distributed internationally by Venevisión International.-Synopsis:...
, Wilfrido performed the theme song, "Amor Casual" and also performed the song "Que Sera" for the 1997 film Out to Sea
Out to Sea
Out to Sea is a 1997 romantic comedy film starring Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Rue McClanahan, Dyan Cannon and Brent Spiner. The film was directed by Martha Coolidge, with a screenplay by Robert Nelson Jacobs...
.
2000's
In 2003 he acted in the drama film "Exito por intercambio".Vargas participated in 2007 at the Colombian version
El Factor X (Colombia)
El factor X is the Colombian television music competition to find new singing talent. It is the based on the original British competition The X Factor, created by Simon Cowell. It is the first version produced in Latin America. The show started screening in September 2005 and ended in December...
of the X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, as the groups mentor.
Today Vargas is one of the best-known artists in America with hit songs such as "El Africano" (written by Calixto Ochoa), "Abusadora", "Comején", "A Mover la Colita", "El Baile del Perrito" and "Volveré".
As of 2010, he lives in Colombia.
Discography
| Title | Year | Chart | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Songs | ||||
| El Jardinero | 1985 | 3 | ||
| La Medicina | 1986 | 2 | ||
| Vida, cancion y suerte | 1987 | 17 | ||
| La musica | 1987 | 4 | ||
| El Baile | 1988 | 2 | ||
| Mas Que Un loco | 1989 | 9 | ||
| Animacion | 1990 | 9 | ||
| Exitos De | 1990 | 9 | ||
| Siempre Wilfrido | 1990 | 5 | ||
| Itinerario | 1993 | 5 | ||
| Abusadora | 1993 | |||
| Wilfrido Vargas & Sandy Reyes | 1994 | |||
| El Funcionario | 1994 | |||
| La Medicina | 1994 | |||
| El Africano | 1999 | |||
| El Extraterrestre | 1995 | |||
| Usted Se Queda Aqui | 1996 | |||
| Y Sus Consentidas | 1996 | |||
| Hoy | 1997 | |||
| El Africano | 1999 | |||
| Wilfrido Vargas | 2000 | |||
| www.wilfrido-vargas.com | 2000 | |||
| Musica | 2001 | |||
| Usted Se Queda Aqui, Vol.8 | 2001 | |||
| Amor Casual, Vol. 10 | 2001 | |||
| Dos Generaciones | 2002 | |||
| El Unico | 2002 | |||
| Albums that did not chart are denoted with an "—". | ||||
Grammy Nomination
- Best Tropical Latin Performance – Animation (1991)
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | |
| 1989 | Que viva el merengue y la lambada | Himself | |
| 2003 | Exito por intercambio | Himself | |