Esther Forero

Esther Forero Celis (10 December 1919 – 3 June 2011), better known as Estercita Forero or "La Novia de Barranquilla" ("Barranquilla's Darling"), was a Colombian singer and composer.

Early years Esther Forero began to sing at age 4 at family gatherings and theaters of her hometown, Barranquilla. At the age of 14, she made her debut in a radio station named "La Voz de Barranquilla" (The Voice of Barranquilla.) Four years later she toured throughout the Colombian territory. In Bogotá (Colombian capital) she performed at (a venue in that city) and in other theaters, and radio stations.

International success In 1942, Forero made her first tour abroad. In Panama, she performed on "Radio Estrella de Panamá" (Panamanian radio station), with the accompaniment of pianist and composer, Avelino Muñoz. In 1945, she went to Venezuela where she first popularized the music of the Caribbean coast. She traveled to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), where she wrote her first song entitled "Santo Domingo", and the porro (a Colombian cumbia rhythm that developed into its own subgenre) "Pegadita de los hombres", which sold 80,000 copies for three consecutive years.

In Cuba, she performed with Pancho Portuondo's orchestra, followed in 1952 by a trip to New York, where she started recording with pianist and composer René Touzet.

The Colombian Ministry of Culture granted her the title "Emeritus" in 1998, citing "For her unquestionable contribution to Colombian music before the world, for her dedicated work, and for having been a spokesperson for the most positive values of our culture in the world."

Songs . She was the author of songs such as "Mi vieja Barranquilla" (My Old Barranquilla) (1974), "Luna Barranquillera" (Barranquillian Moon) (1963), "La Guacherna" (A festival)(1976), "Volvió Juanita" (Juanita Returned) (1978), "Palito 'e matarratón" (Matarraton is a type of tree which was local to the Barranquilla area) (1964), "Tambores de Carnaval" (Carnival Drums) (1978), "Nadie ha de saber" (No one should know) (2002), and "El hombre del palo" (The Wooden Man).