The Colombian composer, singer and accordionist Omar Geles, author of the hit ‘Los Caminos de la Vida’ and who joined the Vallenata music group Los diablitos with Miguel Morales, died this Tuesday at the age of 57.
Geles, who was king of vallenato in 1989, died at the Erasmo Clinic in Valledupar, a city considered the world capital of this music, after suffering a heart problem while playing sports.
“Folklore in mourning. King Vallenato Omar Antonio Geles Suárez died in Valledupar. In his musical career as an accordion player and composer, he achieved great triumphs and knew how to give glory and honor to the music that he loved so much until his last days. Peace on his grave. Goodbye to the King,” he wrote in X’s account of the Vallenata Legend Festival.
Geles’ death was also mourned by Carlos Vives, who remembered him in addition to being a musician as “a talented actor” with whom he shared in some television series about vallenato artists.
“It is not easy to accept that an artist like Omar Geles, with so much talent, with so much joy, with so many stories to tell, with so much love for people, has suddenly left. I could tell you many stories about a truly fraternal artist, without selfishness, and loved by everyone,” Vives wrote on his social networks.
The singer Adriana Lucía also recalled the talent of Omar Geles not only as a composer, singer and accordionist but also as a music producer.
“Omar Geles was my first producer. One of the most important people in my artistic life. He always believed in me. We recently talked again and it seemed as if the years had never passed. My condolences and prayers go out to his family for whom I have so much affection,” the singer wrote.
After hearing the news of the death, a crowd gathered in front of the Valledupar clinic where Geles died to sing his songs.
Immense musical legacy
Omar Geles and his partner Miguel Morales created the group Los Diablitos in 1985, which became very popular in Colombia and other Latin American countries, such as Venezuela and Paraguay, with romantic vallenatos and hits such as ‘Los Caminos de la Vida’ and ‘Como le Pago’. to my God’.
In 2004, after separating from Morales, the artist changed the name of the group to La Gente de Omar Geles with which he remained active to this day.
Geles’ last performance on stage took place last Saturday at the El Campín stadium in Bogotá where he participated with other artists in the massive concert by fellow vallenato artist Silvestre Dangond.
That night he took the stage for the tribute ‘A blanco y negro’, in which, along with other Vallenato artists such as Elder Dayán, Karen Lizarazo, Gusi, Penchy Castro, Rafa Pérez, Diego Daza and Churo Díaz, he sang alongside Silvestre.
“You don’t need an introduction, everyone knows the immense love I feel for you and your songs. Half my career is in your hands, black. I adore you, my black man, I love you,” Silvestre said to Geles that night when thanking him for having inspired him with his compositions and his music.
Silvestre Dangond recorded several songs authored by Omar Geles, such as ‘A Blanco y Negro’, ‘Las Locracies Mía’ and ‘I like it, I like it’.
Omar Ice blank sheet’ and ‘Dreams of oblivion’.
Source: EFE Agency
