Colacho Mendoza
Encyclopedia
Nicolas Elias Mendoza Daza, also known as Colacho Mendoza (April 15, 1936 – September 27, 2003) was a Colombian Vallenato
accordion player and was crowned king of accordion players on many occasions in the Vallenato Legend Festival
. He was born in a small village called Sabanas de Manuela in the municipality of Barrancas
, La Guajira Department, in northern Colombia
. According to Gabriel Garcia Marquez
he was the best interpreter of Rafael Escalona
's songs.
in the northern La Guajira Department. He was the son of Andrés Mendoza and Juana Daza, whom were the first to encourage him to learn music.http://www.colombia.com/biografias/autonoticias/DetalleNoticia725.asp
in 1969. In 1987 he participated in the King of Kings competition in the Vallenato Legend Festival, an event in which only previous kings can participate, and won, defeating Alejo Duran
. He played with prominent vallenato singers such as Alfonso Zuleta, Jorge Oñate
, Diomedes Díaz
, Silvio Britto and Ivo Luis Díaz.
Vallenato
Vallenato, along with cumbia, is currently a popular folk music of Colombia. It primarily comes from the Colombia's Caribbean region. Vallenato literally means "born in the valley". The valley influencing this name is located between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía de Perijá in...
accordion player and was crowned king of accordion players on many occasions in the Vallenato Legend Festival
Vallenato Legend Festival
The Vallenato Legend Festival is one of the most important musical festivals in Colombia. The Festival features a vallenato music contests for best interpreter of accordion, caja vallenata and guacharaca, as well as piqueria and best song...
. He was born in a small village called Sabanas de Manuela in the municipality of Barrancas
Barrancas, La Guajira
Barrancas is a town and municipality of the Colombian Department of La Guajira. The municipality of Barrancas is located to the left margin of the Ranchería River in a valley formed between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains and the Serrania del Perija. Barrancas has a total area of 742 km²...
, La Guajira Department, in northern Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. According to Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
he was the best interpreter of Rafael Escalona
Rafael Escalona
Rafael Calixto Escalona Martinez was a Colombian composer and troubadour. He was known for being one of the most prominent vallenato music composers and troubadours of the genre and for being the co-founder of the Vallenato Legend Festival, along with Consuelo Araújo and Alfonso López Michelsen.He...
's songs.
Early years
Mendoza was born April 15, 1936 in the small village of Sabanas de Manuela, located in the Municipality of BarrancasBarrancas, La Guajira
Barrancas is a town and municipality of the Colombian Department of La Guajira. The municipality of Barrancas is located to the left margin of the Ranchería River in a valley formed between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains and the Serrania del Perija. Barrancas has a total area of 742 km²...
in the northern La Guajira Department. He was the son of Andrés Mendoza and Juana Daza, whom were the first to encourage him to learn music.http://www.colombia.com/biografias/autonoticias/DetalleNoticia725.asp
Accordion player
He was crowned King of the Vallenato Legend FestivalVallenato Legend Festival
The Vallenato Legend Festival is one of the most important musical festivals in Colombia. The Festival features a vallenato music contests for best interpreter of accordion, caja vallenata and guacharaca, as well as piqueria and best song...
in 1969. In 1987 he participated in the King of Kings competition in the Vallenato Legend Festival, an event in which only previous kings can participate, and won, defeating Alejo Duran
Alejo Duran
Gilberto Alejandro Durán Diaz, known to all as Alejo Durán or "El Negro Grande" was a Colombian vallenato music traditional composer, singer and accordionist....
. He played with prominent vallenato singers such as Alfonso Zuleta, Jorge Oñate
Jorge Oñate
Jorge Oñate born March 31, 1949 in the town of Los Robles La Paz, near the city of Valledupar in northern Colombia, is one of the most renown singers and composers of the vallenato musical genre. As of 2004 and since the beginning of his career in 1968 he has achieved 25 gold discs, 7 platinum...
, Diomedes Díaz
Diomedes Díaz
Diomedes de Jesús Díaz Maestre is a Colombian vallenato singer and composer. He is the most widely recognized performer of this musical genre...
, Silvio Britto and Ivo Luis Díaz.