Julio Jaramillo

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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
Instrument	Guitar
Years active	1950–1978
Labels	Ónix, Yoyo Music, Sonolux, Discos Peerless, Codiscos, ABStationRecords

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]

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]

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. y el

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.

His last international tour was held in the United States and Canada.

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

In February 1978, Julio underwent a dangerous procedure to remove his gallstones.

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]

On October 1, 2019, Google celebrated his 84th birthday with a Google Doodle.^[7]

According to All Music Guide^[8]

• Los Chalchaleros
• Carlos Gardel
• Daniel Santos
• Pasillo
• Bolero

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Julio Jaramillo.

• Julio Jaramillo Museum of Popular Music (Guayaquil-Ecuador)1 stand dedicated to Julio Jaramillo (in Spanish)
• Biography at mp3.com
• Julio Jaramillo discography
• Julio Jaramillo, life, mp3s