Accordion player Luis Eduardo “Luchito” Daza Maestre was crowned King of Vallenato at the annual vallenato music festival in the northern Colombian city of Valledupar.
The new official best vallenato musician in the country is 29 years old and from the town of Dificil, Magdalena. He performed on albums by singers Luis Vence and Cesar Solano.
The festival was held in the honor of Rafael Escalona, considered Colombia’s best vallenato musician and composer ever, who died almost a year ago. Luchito Daza and the other finalists performed songs by the deceased master.
Vallenato, one of the country’s many folkloric music styles, is widely popular across Colombia, especially in the north where the music originates from.