WILSON PEÑA: EL SONERO MAYOR

Introduction

In this video, Wilson Peña talks about his experience as a musician and how he got started in the vallenato genre.

Early Beginnings

• Wilson Peña talks about how he and Rodolfo Castilla used to play together and experiment with different rhythms.

• He mentions that he comes from a musical family and was always interested in music from a young age.

• His mother used to wash clothes by the river, and he would use anything he could find to make music, such as spoons or forks.

• Wilson Peña became a corista (chorus singer), but eventually learned to play percussion instruments like the caja and guacharaca.

Innovating in Vallenato Music

• He talks about how his father was from Villanueva and his mother was from Valledupar, where there was a lot of vallenato music. He mentions an artist named Resuleta who played the fundadora (a type of drum).

• Wilson Peña innovated by experimenting with different rhythms, such as creating a new beat for the paseo called "paseíto".

• He started playing with Aniceto Molina's group in Medellín, where he learned more about vallenato music.

• Wilson Peña also worked on recordings with other artists like Fruko and Los Graduados.

Sonero Mayor

• Jorge Oñate and Jaime Pérez gave him the nickname "Sonero Mayor", which means "the greatest sonero".

• Other artists also refer to him as "Sonero Mayor" in their recordings.

Caja and Tumbadora in Vallenato Music

Wilson Peña talks about the use of caja and tumbadora in vallenato music, and how he helped introduce new techniques to the genre.

Introduction of New Techniques

• Wilson Peña introduced new techniques for playing the caja and tumbadora, such as using different effects and rhythms.

• He mentions that these techniques were first used in a recording he did with Osvaldo Roesecco called "Río Seco".

• These techniques became more popular in the 70s, especially after he started working with other artists like Fruko.

Conclusion

• Wilson Peña credits his success to God and his passion for music.

The Beginning of Vallenato Music

In this section, the speaker talks about how he started playing vallenato music and how they developed their unique sound.

Developing a Unique Sound

• The speaker started playing tumbadora with another musician who played the gorda.

• They were joined by a new musician, and together they developed a unique sound that caught the attention of other musicians.

• Other musicians began to incorporate their style into their own music.

Playing as an Invited Guest

In this section, the speaker talks about his experience playing as an invited guest in various bands.

Playing as an Invited Guest

• The speaker was often invited to play as a guest in various bands, including those led by Jorge Oñate and Los Zuleta.

• He was particularly known for his work on classic vallenato songs.

Joining Diomedes Diaz's Band

In this section, the speaker talks about how he joined Diomedes Diaz's band and his experiences playing with him.

Joining Diomedes Diaz's Band

• The speaker joined Diomedes Diaz's band after being approached by them.

• He began playing with them immediately and went on tour with them.

• He had many memorable experiences playing with Diomedes Diaz, including traveling on buses together and developing new rhythms.

Creating New Rhythms

In this section, the speaker talks about creating new rhythms while traveling on buses with other musicians.

Creating New Rhythms

• While traveling on buses with other musicians, the speaker would often create new rhythms by tapping on the seats.

• He once created a new rhythm while traveling with Diomedes Diaz, which became a popular song.

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