El Preso

"El Preso" (translation "the prisoner") is a song recorded by Fruko y sus Tesos. It was released in 1975 with vocals by Wilson Saoko.^[1] The song was composed by the band's percussionist Álvaro Velásquez.^[2][3]

"El Preso"
Single by Fruko y sus Tesos
Released	1975
Genre	Salsa
Songwriter	Álvaro Velásquez

The lyrics are the narration of a prisoner ("preso") serving 30 years.^[4] The actual inspiration for songwriter Velásquez was a friend's letter describing another friend's pain being jailed for 30 years on a drug charge.^[5] In an interview, Julio Ernesto Estrada (aka Fruko) said it "became a world anthem of salsa music".^[5]

Radio Nacional de Colombia also called the song a "universal hymn of salsa."^[6]

The song has also been recognized as one of the greatest Colombian songs of all time by multiple media sources:

• In its list of the ten most iconic Colombian songs, El Nuevo Siglo, rated La Pollera Colorá at No. 10.^[7]

• It was selected by Hip Latina in 2017 as one of the "13 Old School Songs Every Colombian Grew Up Listening To"; the publication wrote that "the infectious beat will have you dancing quite freely."^[8]

• In its list of the 50 best Colombian songs of all time, El Tiempo, Colombia's most widely circulated newspaper, ranked the song at No. 41.^[9]

• It was selected by Billboard in 2018 as one of the "15 Best Salsa Songs Ever".^[10]