Raúl Vásquez

Peruvian singer-songwriter born in Iquitos, capital of Loreto's department, in Peru's jungle region, on January 4, 1949. He began his artistic career in 1969 at Trujillo Spring Festival, where he won the first place with his song "La plañidera" (known in Argentina through Leonardo Favio's cover), while another composition of his, "La Tierra, La Tierra", was ranked fourth. Over the years, the pseudonym of "The Monster of Song" was won, winning a dozen festivals and being second or third in seven more. His passion for football led him to compose the unofficial hymn of the Alianza Lima Club, while his song "Canción De Bienvenida" is also a hymn for his native Iquitos, where he is considered a Favorite Son. Raúl Vásquez's international successes are "Voy a guardar mi lamento", "Natacha", "Vas a ser mi compañera", "Campesinita azul", "Fidelidad" (written along with Rulli Rendo, first written composition for AIDS prevention) and "Todos los días pueden ser Navidad", with which he represented Peru at 1984 OTI Festival.