Julio Jaramillo

Julio Alfredo Jaramillo Laurido (October 1, 1935 – February 9, 1978) was a notable Ecuadorian singer and recording artist who performed throughout Latin America, achieving great fame for his renditions of boleros, valses, pasillos, tangos, and rancheras.^[2]

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Julio Jaramillo
Julio Jaramillo, the Nightingale of America
Background information
Birth name	Julio Alfredo Jaramillo Laurido
Also known as	J. J. (Jota Jota)^[1] El Ruiseñor de América (The Nightingale of America)
Born	(1935-10-01)October 1, 1935
Origin	Guayaquil, Ecuador
Died	February 9, 1978(1978-02-09) (aged 42)
Genres	pasillo, bolero, corrido, valse, tango, ranchera, Ibersound
Instrument	Guitar
Years active	1950–1978
Labels	Ónix, Yoyo Music, Sonolux, Discos Peerless, Codiscos, ABStationRecords

Having recorded more than 2,200 songs throughout his career, his most famous song was and is "Nuestro Juramento" well known throughout all South America. He is considered to be one of the most beloved singers of Ecuador, even before Gerardo Moran, Maximo Escaleras, and many other talents.^[1]^[3]

Jaramillo recorded with many other noteworthy Latin American artists including Puerto Rican singer, Daniel Santos; fellow Ecuadorian singer, Olimpo Cárdenas; and Colombian singer, Alci Acosta.^[4]

Childhood

Jaramillo was born on October 1, 1935, in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Son of Juan Pantaleón Jaramillo Erazo and Apolonia Laurido Cáceres. His parents moved to Guayaquil from the town of Machachi in search for a better life.^[5] He had two siblings, a sister who died at the age of 5 and a brother named Pepe.

By the age of 17, Jaramillo was becoming famous for having a beautiful and warm voice, participated in radio programs at "El Condor" radio station. In 1950 he joined with two friends to form a trio.^{[citation needed]}

Professional career

With the recording of his first album, "Mi pobre querida Madre" (1954), which was a duet with the established singer Fresia Saavedra,^[6] his name began to be known. This was followed by the Peruvian-style waltz song called "Esposa (wife)" (1955), a duet with Carlos Rubira Infante.

In 1956, the Peruvian-style waltz Fatalidad(music by Laureano Martínez Smart, text by Juan Sixto Prieto) marked his breakthrough. It's something between a Peruvian waltz and an Ecuadorian "pasillo." It was a huge success from the very beginning — 6000 copies were sold within a week. By the end of 1956, he had produced a dozen albums under the Onyx label. In 1959, he moved to TV and also the movies. His first film was Mala Mujer or "Wicked Woman". He gained international recognition after the bolero "Nuestro Juramento" (1957), and he made several tours in Latin America. He began a journey through Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. The Mexican label Peerless became interested in him and sent him on a tour of Peru and Chile. In Colombia, he met up with his brother Pepe, who had previously emigrated to that country. When not on tour, he performed in movie theaters in Guayaquil (it was customary at that time to perform concerts before the main feature). Because of his immense popularity, he started to do pre-movie shows on Saturdays and Sundays, which later became two daily shows, seven days a week. Upon returning to Ecuador, he was arrested and forced into military service.

Returning to civilian life in 1960, he continued his career, reaching sellout performances of up to four consecutive months at Guayaquil's Guayas Theater. He also had a part in an Ecuadorian movie, "Fiebre de Juventud: Romance en Ecuador", and another one in Argentina. In 1965, he settled in Venezuela and completed successful tours of Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Central America. He also recorded duets with Daniel Santos, Olimpo Cárdenas, and Alci Acosta.^{[citation needed]}

He recorded the Leoncio Burgos composition, "Amor Incomparable", which was released on a single. It debuted in the New York Latin American Single Hit Parade chart at no. 18 for the week of 27 January 1968.^[7]^[8] As shown in the 10 February issue of Record World in its Latin Deejay Reports section, William Valentin Rico from WHOM in New York reported that "Amor Incomparable" was at no. 13.^[9] Also in the late 1960s, he had an album, Amor Incomparable released on Ibersound IB-584.^[10] He also had another record released on the label. It was Mas Exitos on IB-590.^[11]

His last international tour was held in the United States and Canada.^{[citation needed]}

Surgery

After his return to Ecuador in 1975, during his final years, he hosted a radio show called "The J.J. Hour" on Radio Cristal.

In February 1978, Julio underwent a dangerous procedure to remove his gallstones.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Jaramillo passed away at the age of 42. It is estimated that there were about 250,000 Ecuadorians at his funeral in Guayaquil.^[1] His level of popularity in Ecuador could be compared to Frank Sinatra's in the United States, Pedro Infante in Mexico, or Carlos Gardel's in Argentina.^[1] Since 1993, his birthday has been commemorated as a national holiday for the pasillo: Día del Pasillo Ecuatoriano (Day of the Ecuadorian Pasillo).^[2]

Biography

Childhood

Professional career

Surgery

Death

Tribute

Songs composed by Julio Jaramillo

See also

References

External links

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