Jorge Luis Velosa Ruiz (born October 6, 1949) is a Colombian singer-songwriter, professor, actor, and writer, recognized as one of the leading exponents and initiators of carranguera music.
Graduated from the National University of Colombia as a veterinary physician, Velosa chose to fully dedicate himself to music and literature with a carranguero flavor.
Early life and education Jorge Luis Velosa Ruiz was born on October 6, 1949, in Ráquira, a municipality in the Boyacá department, Colombia. From his childhood, he was surrounded by rural and peasant traditions that would later influence his artistic career. He grew up in a modest family that greatly valued music and the customs of their region.
Before fully dedicating himself to music, Velosa showed great interest in studies. He moved to Bogotá to continue his higher education, where he obtained the title of veterinary physician from the National University of Colombia. Although he worked as a veterinarian, he never abandoned his passion for music, which would eventually become his true vocation.
Career In the 1970s, while working as a veterinarian, Velosa began to investigate the potential of peasant music as a means to express the culture and traditions of his homeland. His interest in folklore drove him to experiment with carranga, a musical genre that blends traditional Andean rhythms with humorous, social, and poetic lyrics that tell the everyday life of Colombian peasants.
In 1977, Velosa founded the musical group Los Carrangueros de Ráquira along with José Luis "El Chato" Lagos, Jorge González, and Ramiro Zambrano. With this group, he succeeded in consolidating carranga as a distinctive genre within Colombian music. Los Carrangueros made popular emblematic songs such as "La cucharita," "Julia, Julia, Julia," and "La china que yo tenía," which resonated deeply among peasants and also among urban audiences who appreciated the authenticity of this musical style.
Discography
Los Carrangueros de Ráquira (1979–1992)
Javier Moreno Forero* – requinto, vocals Jorge Luis Velosa* – vocals, riolina, guacharaca Félix Ramiro Zambrano* – marcante guitar Javier Apráez* - tiple
AlbumYearRecord labelLos Carrangueros de Ráquira1980Fondo Musical¡Viva quien toca!1981Fondo MusicalAsí es la vida1982Fondo Musical
Jorge Velosa y Los Hermanos Torres (First Stage: 1984-1988)
Jorge Velosa* – vocals, birimbao, guacharaca, riolina Delio Torres Ariza* – requinto, vocals Argemiro Torres Ariza* – guitar Juan de Jesús Torres Camacho* – Tiple
AlbumYearRecord labelPa’ los pies y el corazón1984FM DiscosCon alma, vida y sombrero1985FM DiscosEntre chiste y chanza1986FM DiscosAlegría carranguera1987FM DiscosEl que canta sus penas espanta1988FM Discos
Jorge Velosa y Los Hermanos Torres (Second Stage: 1989)
Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca Delio Torres* – requinto, tiple, cuatro, clave, vocals Argemiro Torres* – guitar Francisco Aristizábal* – bongó
AlbumYearRecord labelA ojo cerrado1989FM Discos
Jorge Velosa y Los Hermanos Torres (Third Stage: 1990)
Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca, riolina Delio Torres* – requinto, vocals Jairo Rincón Gómez* – Tiple, vocals Argemiro Torres* – guitar, vocals
AlbumYearRecord labelDe mil amores1990FM Discos
Velosa y Los Carrangueros (First Stage: 1992)
Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca, harmonica Delio Torres* – requinto, vocals Jairo Rincón Gómez* – Tiple José Luis Posada Buitrago* – Guitar
AlbumYearRecord labelHarina de otro costal1992Fuentes
Velosa y Los Carrangueros (Second Stage: 1993)
Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca, harmonica Delio Torres* – requinto, vocals José Luis Posada Buitrago* – Guitar Jorge Eliecer González Virviescas* – Tiple
AlbumYearRecord labelSobando la pita1993Fuentes
Velosa y Los Carrangueros (Third Stage: 1994-1995)
Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca Luis Alberto Aljure Lis* – Tiple, bandola llanera, vocals José Luis Posada Buitrago* – Guitar Jorge González Virviescas* – Requinto, vocals
AlbumYearRecord labelRevolando en cuadro1994FuentesMarcando calavera1996Fuentes
Velosa y Los Carrangueros (Fourth Stage: 1996-2003)
Jorge Velosa* – vocals, guacharaca, harmonica Luis Alberto Aljure Lis* – Tiple, tambor, vocals Jorge González Virviescas* – Requinto, vocals José Fernando Rivas Gómez* – Guitar, vocals
AlbumYearRecord labelEn cantos verdes1998FuentesPatiboliando2002MTMLero, Lero, Candelero2003MTM
Velosa y Los Carrangueros (Fifth Stage: 2004-2020)
Jorge Velosa* – vocals, riolina, guacharaca Jorge González Virviescas* – requinto, vocals José Fernando Rivas* – guitar, electric guitar, vocals Manuel Cortés González* – Tiple, vocals
AlbumYearRecord labelSurungusungo2005MTMCarranga Sinfónica2011MTM
Jorge Velosa y Los Carrangueros del 25 (2024-Current)
Jorge Velosa* – vocals, riolina, guacharaca Marco Villarreal* – requinto Gabriel Chaparro* – guitar Angélica Fonseca* – Tiple
AlbumYearRecord labelEl carrango y la carranga (Song)2024NMC
Compilations CompilationYearRecord labelLas clásicas con Los Hermanos Torres y Los Carrangueros de Ráquira1990FMUna historia carranguera2000FMHistoria Musical del Carranguero Mayor2001Fuentes
Nominations and Awards YearNominated byAward or CategoryResult1995Premio Nacional de Cultura "Luis A. Calvo"Best Traditional Music ArtistWinner2000Premio de la Música ColombiaBest Carranga AlbumWinner2001Latin Grammy AwardsBest Folk Music AlbumNominated2010Premio a la Excelencia MusicalRecognition for Cultural ContributionWinner2015Viña del Mar FestivalSilver Gaviota (Best International Artist)Winner2018Order of BoyacáRecognition for Contribution to Traditional MusicWinner2002Billboard Latin Music AwardsBest Folk Music AlbumNominated2010Shock AwardsBest Traditional Music SongNominated2014Latin Music AwardsBest Carranga Artist of the YearNominated2016Caribbean Music AwardBest Traditional Music ArtistNominated
Recognitions YearRecognitionAwarded by1997Order of FreedomAwarded by the Department of Boyacá in recognition of his cultural contribution.2000Children's Song in BoliviaOne of his children's songs was officially chosen to aid in the teaching of Spanish in indigenous communities of Bolivia.No specifiedNational Excellence in Arts and Sciences AwardAwarded by the National University of Colombia and its Alumni Association in recognition of his career.2008Gonzalo Suárez Rendón Decoration (Grand Gold Collar)Received by the Mayor of Tunja on Farmers' Day, recognizing his cultural work.1994Baptism of Frog SpeciesBiologist John Lynch named two frog species in his honor: Pristimantis carranguerorum and Pristimantis jorgevelosai, belonging to the Strabomantidae family.2012Honorary Doctorate (National University of Colombia)Received in recognition of his cultural and artistic contribution.2023Honorary Doctorate in Language and Culture (UPTC)Awarded by the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia (UPTC) in recognition of his impact on culture and language.
Filmography YearTitleCharacterFirst Broadcast1982Don ChincheFlorentino Bautista 'don Floro'Cadena Uno (1987-1992) / RTVC PLAY Streaming Platform1987–1992Romeo y BusetaTrino Epaminondas TutaCadena Uno (1987-1992) / RTVC PLAY Streaming Platform1988Sumercé EstéreoJosé del Carmen Romero / Trino Epaminondas TutaRadio Station1993–1994Los TutaTrino Epaminondas TutaSeñal Colombia (1993-1994) / RTVC PLAY Streaming Platform
Literature YearTitlePublisher1983La cucharita y no sé qué más: historias para cantarCarlos Valencia Editores2021El convite de los animalesEditorial Monigote2023Abuelo de pájaroEditorial Monigote2024Historiando mi cantar. Un viaje por la carrangaEditorial Monigote
Sonidos Colombianos (Realización: José Perilla). Conversatorio con Velosa y Los Carrangueros. Radio Nacional (RTVC), 22 de octubre de 2009.
External links Centro Virtual de Documentación de la Música Carranguera MySpace site Traditional folkloric music blog