Jorge Velosa

Jorge Luis Velosa Ruiz (born October 6, 1949) is a Colombian singer-songwriter, professor, actor, and writer, recognized as one of the leading exponents and initiators of carranguera music.

Graduated from the National University of Colombia as a veterinary physician, Velosa chose to fully dedicate himself to music and literature with a carranguero flavor.

Early life and education Jorge Luis Velosa Ruiz was born on October 6, 1949, in Ráquira, a municipality in the Boyacá department, Colombia. From his childhood, he was surrounded by rural and peasant traditions that would later influence his artistic career. He grew up in a modest family that greatly valued music and the customs of their region.

Before fully dedicating himself to music, Velosa showed great interest in studies. He moved to Bogotá to continue his higher education, where he obtained the title of veterinary physician from the National University of Colombia. Although he worked as a veterinarian, he never abandoned his passion for music, which would eventually become his true vocation.

Career In the 1970s, while working as a veterinarian, Velosa began to investigate the potential of peasant music as a means to express the culture and traditions of his homeland. His interest in folklore drove him to experiment with carranga, a musical genre that blends traditional Andean rhythms with humorous, social, and poetic lyrics that tell the everyday life of Colombian peasants.

In 1977, Velosa founded the musical group Los Carrangueros de Ráquira along with José Luis "El Chato" Lagos, Jorge González, and Ramiro Zambrano. With this group, he succeeded in consolidating carranga as a distinctive genre within Colombian music. Los Carrangueros made popular emblematic songs such as "La cucharita," "Julia, Julia, Julia," and "La china que yo tenía," which resonated deeply among peasants and also among urban audiences who appreciated the authenticity of this musical style.

Discography

Los Carrangueros de Ráquira (1979–1992)

Javier Moreno Forero* – requinto, vocals Jorge Luis Velosa* – vocals, riolina, guacharaca Félix Ramiro Zambrano* – marcante guitar Javier Apráez* - tiple

Jorge Velosa y Los Hermanos Torres (First Stage: 1984-1988)

Jorge Velosa* – vocals, birimbao, guacharaca, riolina Delio Torres Ariza* – requinto, vocals Argemiro Torres Ariza* – guitar Juan de Jesús Torres Camacho* – Tiple

Jorge Velosa y Los Hermanos Torres (Second Stage: 1989)

Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca Delio Torres* – requinto, tiple, cuatro, clave, vocals Argemiro Torres* – guitar Francisco Aristizábal* – bongó

Jorge Velosa y Los Hermanos Torres (Third Stage: 1990)

Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca, riolina Delio Torres* – requinto, vocals Jairo Rincón Gómez* – Tiple, vocals Argemiro Torres* – guitar, vocals

Velosa y Los Carrangueros (First Stage: 1992)

Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca, harmonica Delio Torres* – requinto, vocals Jairo Rincón Gómez* – Tiple José Luis Posada Buitrago* – Guitar

Velosa y Los Carrangueros (Second Stage: 1993)

Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca, harmonica Delio Torres* – requinto, vocals José Luis Posada Buitrago* – Guitar Jorge Eliecer González Virviescas* – Tiple

Velosa y Los Carrangueros (Third Stage: 1994-1995)

Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca Luis Alberto Aljure Lis* – Tiple, bandola llanera, vocals José Luis Posada Buitrago* – Guitar Jorge González Virviescas* – Requinto, vocals

Velosa y Los Carrangueros (Fourth Stage: 1996-2003)

Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca, harmonica Luis Alberto Aljure Lis* – Tiple, tambor, vocals Jorge González Virviescas* – Requinto, vocals José Fernando Rivas Gómez* – Guitar, vocals

Velosa y Los Carrangueros (Fifth Stage: 2004-2020)

Jorge Velosa* – vocals, riolina, guacharaca Jorge González Virviescas* – requinto, vocals José Fernando Rivas* – guitar, electric guitar, vocals Manuel Cortés González* – Tiple, vocals

Jorge Velosa y Los Carrangueros del 25 (2024-Current)

Jorge Velosa* – vocals, riolina, guacharaca Marco Villarreal* – requinto Gabriel Chaparro* – guitar Angélica Fonseca* – Tiple

AlbumYearRecord labelEl carrango y la carranga (Song)2024NMC

Compilations

Nominations and Awards

Recognitions

Filmography

Literature

Sonidos Colombianos (Realización: José Perilla). Conversatorio con Velosa y Los Carrangueros. Radio Nacional (RTVC), 22 de octubre de 2009.