Simón Díaz

Simón Díaz, born in Venezuela in 1928, is the most celebrated singer and composer of Venezuelan music. His work is regarded as one of the most important legacies for both Venezuelan and Latin American popular music. Simón Díaz is known foremost for his recovery of the songs of the Venezuelan plains (llanos). He succeeded in turning the songs of the Venezuelan countryside into an authentic musical genre and now part of the regular repertoire of Latin superstars such as Argentina’s Mercedes Sosa, and Brazil’s Caetano Veloso and Ivan Lins. Besides being an icon in Venezuela, Díaz is also one of the most popular and universal artists in Latin music. Simón Díaz is best-known worldwide as the author of “Caballo Viejo” (also re-named “Bamboleo” and an international hit for the Gipsy Kings). His compositions have been performed by a who-s who of Latin music greats, including Plácido Domingo, Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Juan Gabriel, Tania Libertad, Paquito d’ Rivera , etc. The prestigous Latin American TV Channel A&E MUNDO has produced a documentary dedicated to Simón Díaz under its acclaimed “Biography” series, which premiered in South America in September 2004.

“Simón Díaz has direct contact with what is pure. His songs are full of light.”
- Caetano Veloso
“Simón Díaz is one of the great geniuses of Latin American music.”
– Ivan Lins