HISTORY OF THE ACCORDION IN COLOMBIAIn the town of Valledupar the first diatonic accordion appeared, which was introduced by the Germans.Vallenato is singing accompanied by the accordion. Later the guacharaca and caja (a type of tambourine) were used in accompaniment. The music produced was a mixture of traditional music from Peru and Bolivia, the Caribbean, Spain and Africa. Julio De La Ossa was probably the best known vallenato accordionist, and was known as "The King of Vallenato". In Vallenato groups, the accordion is often played without accompaniment, with the other musicians joining in occasionally. The first big Vallenato accordion star in Northern Colombia was Annibal Velasquez. The Colombian accordion tradition focuses on the diatonic accordion. However, one famous chromatic player is Sergio Miquel. |
