Simón Narciso Díaz Márquez (August 8, 1928 – February 19, 2014), also known as tío Simón, was a Venezuelan singer, actor, TV host, comedian, and Grammy Award-winning composer of Venezuelan music. Some of his most popular songs include Caballo viejo, Tonada de luna llena and La vaca Mariposa.

Díaz endeavored to recover the folklore and musical traditions of the Venezuelan Llanos (plains). This style of music has since been performed by artists such as Argentina's Mercedes Sosa, Brazil's Caetano Veloso, Spain's Joan Manuel Serrat, Peru's Susana Baca, Puerto Rico's Danny Rivera, and Venezuelans Franco De Vita, Soledad Bravo, Juan Carlos Salazar, Carlos Baute and José Luis Rodríguez, among others. Many of Díaz's works have been adapted by symphonies and choral ensembles throughout Venezuela, as well as being incorporated into the orchestral and choral arrangements of conductors and composers of academic music.

Artists from other disciplines have also utilized Díaz's work. For example, German choreographer Pina Bausch included some of Díaz's songs in her work Nur Du. Film director Pedro Almodóvar included Díaz's song "Tonada de luna llena" as part of the soundtrack for his film The Flower of My Secret, sung by the Brazilian artist Caetano Veloso.

Early life He was born in Barbacoas, Guárico state (nowadays in the state of Aragua), Venezuela, to Juan Díaz and María Márquez de Díaz. He had 7 siblings, one of whom is the now deceased, actor and comedian Joselo Díaz. His father was a musician and played the cornet in a local band, and he encouraged him to play the Venezuelan cuatro as well as taught him some of the basics in music.

After his father's death in 1940, his family relocated to San Juan de los Morros, where he finished primary school and started receiving music lessons from Ramón Ziegler. In an interview, he described that in that moment, as the eldest brother, he became the “man of the house” and helped his mother raise the rest of his siblings. When he turned 15, he started working as an assistant of the local Siboney Orchestra and soon after performed as comedian under the pseudonym «el Chato».

Career

In 1949 he started working in Caracas as a collector for the Banco Venezolano de Crédito and started receiving music lessons at the Escuela Superior de Música de Caracas. In the 1950s he gained attention as the host of El llanero, a radio show where he mixed folk music and comedy. Later on, he hosted another radio show in 70s with his brother Joselo, titled Media hora con Joselo y Simón.

In 1963 he participated as a collaborator in the album Parranda criolla, produced by Hugo Blanco. His first album as a solo artist Ya llegó Simón was released in that same year. Throughout his career he recorded over 70 records and CDs, and made innumerable performances. Lists details on 56 of Diaz's albums Díaz composed and authored the music & lyrics of "Caballo viejo", first released in 1980 (Venezuela) under the album titled "Golpe y Pasaje", Label Palacio de la Música. To date, the song has more than 300 covers from around the world. In 1987 it was recorded by the Gipsy Kings as the hit song "Bamboléo". Simón Díaz's compositions have been performed by artists such as "Roberto Torres", Plácido Domingo, Ray Conniff,Caballo Viejo recorded by Conniff in his album, Fantástico! 1983 Brazilian release CBS-138578 Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Gipsy Kings, Ivan Lins, Joyce,Joyce. Ivan Lins, Cheo Feliciano Cheo Feliciano, Joyce, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cheo Feliciano, Luis Enrique, Danny Rivera, Ivan Lins, Joan Manuel Serrat Juan Gabriel, María Dolores Pradera,Pradera performs El becerrito, written by Simon Diaz Tania Libertad,Libertad performs Caballo Viejo on her album Amar Amando Ry CooderCelia Cruz, Plácido Domingo, Ry Cooder and the Gipsy Kings and Devendra Banhart

Díaz also performed in theater, motion pictures and television. In the 1960s he became a comedian in Venezuela. He had the leading role in three plays, and participated in films such as Cuentos para mayores (1963), Isla de sal (1964), El reportero (1968), La bomba (1975), Fiebre (1976), La invasión (1977) y La empresa perdona un momento de locura (1978). He produced and hosted 12 different TV shows, all of them devised to promote Venezuelan music. One of these shows, Contesta por tío Simón, aired on Venezolana de Television for over 10 years and was devoted to teaching popular culture to children. It was during this time that Díaz's viewers began calling him "tío Simón" (uncle Simón).

Death After battling Alzheimer's disease for many years, his daughter, Bettsimar Díaz García, announced that he died at his home in Caracas on 19 February 2014. Following his death, the Venezuelan Government announced three days of national mourning, and a concert to celebrate his life on 23 February 2014. He was buried on 21 February 2014 at the Cementerio General del Este in Caracas.

Awards and recognition Simón Díaz was awarded the highest recognition conferred by the Venezuelan state, "The Great Ribbon of the Liberator's Order". He was given honorary doctorate degrees by two major Venezuelan universities, Simón Rodríguez University and Zulia's Universidad Católica Cecilio Acosta.

The Latin American TV channel A&E MUNDO produced a documentary dedicated to Díaz under its “Biography” program, honoring his many contributions to Venezuelan culture, the program began airing in September 2004."His most celebrated songs include "Caballo Viejo", which became a smash hit in a crossover genre known as charanga vallenata, and "Bamboleo", recorded by the Gipsy Kings and Celia Cruz. His works have been performed and recorded by a who's whom of international music, from Plácido Domingo to Ivan Lins. Well into his 70s, Diaz maintains an active artistic life, and continues his performing and touring career with appearances throughout Latin America and the United States, including a slated performance in 2006 at Carnegie Hall."

On September 30, 2008, the Latin Grammy Awards announced that they would honor Díaz with a Lifetime Achievement Award, (El Premio del Consejo Directivo). Díaz was awarded the 2008 Latin Recording Academy Trustees Award, presented by Venezuelan salsa singer Oscar D'León.

In 2012, he received the National Prize of Culture (Premio Nacional de la Cultura), in the category of music, by the Venezuelan Ministry of Culture for his work in Venezuelan llanos music, particularly the tonada and traditional milking songs.

Discography Serie Title Label Year LP 6124 Parranda Criolla Palacio 1963 LP 6128 Lila + Hugo + Simón: Música de la Película "Isla de Sal" Palacio 1963 LP 6136 ¡Ya Llegó Simón! Palacio 1963 LP 6146 De Parranda con Simón Palacio 1964 LP 6154 Criollo y Sabroso Palacio 1965 LP 6181 Caracha Negro Palacio 1966 LP 6194 Gaitas y Parrandas con Simón Palacio 1967 LP 6221 Simón En Salsa... En Gaita Palacio 1968 LP 6253 Simón' 69 Palacio 1969 LP 6273 Artistas Venezolanos Solamente Palacio LP 6275 Gaita 70 Palacio 1970 LP 6297 Simon 71 Palacio 1971 LPS 66299 Tonadas Palacio 1974 L.P.S. 109 Navidad Criolla con el Quinto Criollo Palacio/Guarura 1979 LPS 66333 La Gaita de las Cuñas: El Candidato Chévere ¡Vota por Él! Palacio/H.B 1973 LPS 66345 Las Gaitas de Simón: Enemigo Público N°1 Palacio/H.B 1974 LPS 66363 Las Gaitas de Simón: Culpable? Palacio/H.B 1975 LPS 66384 Tonadas Vol.2 Palacio 1976 LPS 66383 Las Gaitas de Simón: Cuñas, Locas, Borrachitos Palacio/H.B LPS 66406 Las Gaitas de Simón Palacio/H.B 1977 LPS 66407 Canciones Criollas Vol.3 Palacio 1978 LPS 66430 Canciones y Tonadas Vol.4 Palacio 1978 LPS 66479 Golpe y Pasaje: Caballo Viejo Palacio 1980 LPS 66483 Música Folklórica y Popular de Venezuela en Contrapunto Palacio LPS 66508 Tonadas Favoritas Palacio LPS 66591 Sus Grandes Éxitos Palacio LPS 2058 Amor Enguayabao Palacio/Rodven 1993 LPS 2067 Cuenta y Canta Vol.1 Palacio LPS 2068 Cuenta y Canta Vol.2 Palacio

References

External links

Simón Díaz Official Website Simón Díaz Biography — TuCuatro Simon Diaz Songs, Lyrics and Chords — TuCuatro Lets bring Simón Díaz to the 2009 Grammy—Facebook group Simón Díaz music Palabras para Simón - Lo afirmativo venezolano