Julio Jaramillo

Julio Jaramillo, an Ecuadorian musician, was born in Guayaquil in 1935. Over his 20-year career, he recorded a wide range of songs including boleros, valses, pasillos, tangos, and rancheras. Jaramillo began his musical journey at a young age, learning to play the guitar and forming a trio with friends. He recorded his first song for a political campaign by the Centrist party, Concentración de Fuerzas Populares (CFP). Despite being a national hero in Ecuador, Jaramillo spent much of his career performing in countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, and Uruguay, collaborating with various artists like Daniel Santos and Olimpo Cárdenas.

In 1976, Jaramillo returned to Ecuador for an anniversary program after more than a decade away. Tragically, he passed away just two years later, prompting a massive outpouring of mourning from thousands of Ecuadorians. His impact on Ecuadorian music was so significant that the day of his birth was designated as Día del Pasillo Ecuatoriano, a national holiday commemorating his legacy.