Senior salsa musician Richie Valdes will be the successor of the late Jairo Varela as director of legendary Colombian salsa band Grupo Niche.
According to local media, Valdes will assume leadership of the orchestra after being asked to do so by the family of Varela, who died earlier this month.
The Quibdo-born musician, composer and producer will assist Grupo Niche in finishing their latest album, which “Jairo left 98% ready,” Valdes told Cali newspaper El Pais.
The new director of Grupo Niche is considered one of Colombia’s most prominent salsa performers.