Julio Bovea

Julio César Bovea Fandiño (1934–2009) was a Colombian musician and songwriter. As leader of the trio Bovea y sus Vallenatos, Bovea helped to develop and popularise the Colombian folk music genre of vallenato, particularly the compositions of Rafael Escalona.

Biography Early life and education Julio Bovea was born in Santa Marta, Colombia, on either 6 or 8 September 1934. His father was Julio Bovea, a composer, , guitarist, and stringed instrument maker; his mother was Josefina Fandiño. Bovea left high school after only one year, due to the death of his father. Before beginning his career in music, Bovea worked as a barber.

Music career Bovea first played guitar in the ensembles of Guillermo Buitrago and Abel Antonio Villa, among others. In August 1947 at the age of 12 he formed his own band, a trio initially called the Trío Magdalena and later renamed to Bovea y sus Vallenatos, in which he played lead guitar and sang, along with Alberto Fernández Mindiola on guacharaca and lead vocals, and Ángel Fontanilla on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Bovea y sus Vallenatos played a role in the development and popularisation of the Colombian musical genre of vallenato. Ignacio Castro Contreras described the typical style of the trio as follows:

Bovea y sus Vallenatos are particularly known for their recordings of the compositions of Rafael Escalona, including "La Casa en el Aire". Their 1962 album Cantos Vallenatos de Escalona was the first collection of Escalona's compositions, and was successful in Bogotá, where vallento was at the time poorly received. Bovea also recorded and popularised several songs written by Rafael Campo Miranda. Bovea's own compositions include "La Mujer Celosa", "El Montañero", and "El Tigre Guapo".

In the 1950s Bovea y sus Vallenatos toured Argentina and were so well received that they decided to stay. Fernández and Fontanilla returned to Colombia in 1969, and Bovea formed a new group that released several albums with RCA Victor. Later Bovea also returned to Colombia, where he continued to perform until his death on 11 September 2009.

Albums with Bovea y sus Vallenatos Merengues Colombianos (1957, Discos Fuentes) Los Cantos Vallenatos de Escalona (1962, Tropical)