Wilfrido Vargas

Wilfrido Radamés Vargas Martínez[1] (Spanish pronunciation: [wilˈfɾiðo ˈβaɾɣas]; born April 24, 1949 in Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) is a bandleader, trumpeter, vocalist, arranger, composer and producer who was instrumental in making the merengue style a worldwide phenomenon.[2]

Wilfrido Vargas
Wilfrido Vargas in 2008
Background information
Birth nameWilfrido Radamés Vargas Martínez
Born (1949-04-24) April 24, 1949
Altamira, Dominican
GenresMerengue
Occupation(s)Singer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, trumpeter, actor
InstrumentsVocals, Trumpet
Years active1972–present
LabelsKaren, Sonotone, Rodven, RCA Intl, Sony BMG
Associated actsJohnny Ventura, Fania All-Stars, Denny Dias, Las Chicas del Can

He was surrounded by musical influences; namely, his father Ramón, an accordionist and guitarist, and his mother Bienvenida, a flute player and guitarist.[3] Vargas began his musical studies early, attending the Municipal Academy of Music beginning at age 10.[4]

He has been a trumpeter and a vocalist,[5] but has also arranged, composed, and led his band, and is also a producer.[4]

Career

1970s

He began his career with the band Wilfrido Vargas y sus Beduinos by recording his first album in 1972.[6]

Alongside many Latin music super stars, he performed during the 1979 music festival Havana Jam.[7]

1980s

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 appeared in the 1989 film "Que viva el merengue y la lambada".[8]

1990s

He was nominated in 1991 for the 33rd Grammy Awards in the Best Tropical Latin Performance for his album Animation.[3] He won a "Gaviota de Plata" (Silver Seagull) in the 1992 Viña del Mar International Song Festival.[9] In 1993, he was decorated by the Dominican president Joaquín Balaguer with the Order of Christopher Columbus in the Knight grade, alongside fellow Dominican musicians Jorge Taveras, Manuel Tejada and Julio Gautreaux for their contribution to the development and dissemination of the national music.[10]

The song "El Africano" from his 1983 album "El Funcionario" was the basis for the 1991 hit single, "Mami El Negro" by Cuban-American rapper DJ Laz.

For the telenovela Bellísima, Wilfrido performed the theme song, "Amor Casual" and also performed the song "Que Será" for the 1997 film Out to Sea.[11]

2000s

In 2003 he acted in the drama film "Exito por intercambio".[12][13]

Vargas participated in 2007 at the Colombian version of The X Factor, as the groups mentor.[14]

Today Vargas is one of the best-known artists in Latin America with hit songs such as "El Africano" (written by Calixto Ochoa[15]), "Abusadora", "Comején", "A Mover la Colita", "El Baile del Perrito" and "Volveré".

As of 2010, he lives in Colombia.[16]

Discography
Title Year Chart[4]
Tropical Songs
Wilfrido Vargas y sus Beduinos1973-
El semáforo1974-
Merengues instrumentales1974-
El jarro pichao1975-
En el Madison Square Garden1976-
¡Por el Campeonato Mundial!1977-
Haciendo historia1979-
¡Punto y aparte!1978-
Internacional1979-
Evolución1979-
El jeque1980-
Abusadora1981-
Wilfrido Vargas & Sandy Reyes1982-
El Funcionario1983-
El Jardinero19843
El Africano1984-
La Medicina19852
Vida, Canción y Suerte198617
La Música19874
El Baile19872
Más Que Un Loco19889
Animation19899
Éxitos de19909
Siempre Wilfrido19905
Amor Casual1991-
Itinerario19925
Usted Se Queda Aquí1994-
El Extraterrestre1995-
Wilfrido Vargas y Sus Consentidas1996-
Hoy1997-
Raíces1998-
www.wilfrido-vargas.com2000-
Dos Generaciones2002-
El Único2002-
Serie platino2000-
Serie 20002000-
10 éxitos de oro2000-
16 éxitos2000-
16 éxitos 22001-
Oro de Oro2001-
Dos generaciones2002-
El único2002-
Juntos2002-
Colección diamante2003-
Raíces 22004-
Grandes éxitos2005-
2 grandes voces del merengue2007-
15 éxitos2008-
Los 30 mejores éxitos2012-
Los Mejor 40 Grandes2012-
Lo Mejor De Mi...2013-
Éxitos y Mucho Más2014-
Merengue Mix 22015-
60 y algo Más2015-
Mi Historia 12016-
Mi Historia 22016-
La Música Vol, 22017-
Albums that did not chart are denoted with an "—".

Grammy Nomination

Filmography
Film
Year Film Role
1989 Que Viva el Merengue y la Lambada Himself
2003 Éxito Por Intercambio Himself

References
  1. Billboard. "Wilfrido Vargas". Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  2. eldiario.ec. "Wilfrido Vargas llega a la fiesta del merengue" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  3. Batanga Media Networks. "Wilfrido Vargas Biografía" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  4. "Wilfrido Vargas Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  5. Aol Music. "Wilfrido Vargas Biography". Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  6. Proefrock, Stacia. "Biography: Wilfrido Vargas". Allmusic. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  7. Nat Geo Music. "Wilfrido Vargas". Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  8. IMDB. "Wilfrido Vargas". Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  9. americasalsa.com. "Biografia de Wilfrido Vargas" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  10. Camara de Diputados de la Republica Dominicana. "Dec. No.314-93" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  11. IMDB. "Wilfrido Vargas". Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  12. Fundación del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano. "Éxito por intercambio" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  13. ahora.com.do. "Testigo ilegal, Perico ripiao y Exito por intercambio activan el cine dominicano" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  14. farandula.co. "Vuelve el Factor XS" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  15. Valledupar Noticias. ""Maestro Calixto, Colombia entera le agradece su obra": Presidente Santos" (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  16. La Voz Libre. "El 'Waka Waka' de Shakira, libre de demandas" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 13, 2010.
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