Julio Jaramillo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julio Alfredo Jaramillo Laurido
Julio Jaramillo, the Nightingale of America
Background information
Birth name	Julio Alfredo Jaramillo Laurido
Also known as	J. J. (Jota Jota) 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
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1950–1978
Labels	Ónix, Yoyo Music, Sonolux, Discos Peerless, Codiscos, ABStationRecords

Julio Alfredo Jaramillo Laurido (born October 1, 1935 – died February 9, 1978) was a very famous singer from Ecuador. People all over Latin America loved his music. He was especially known for singing boleros, valses, pasillos, tangos, and rancheras.

Julio Jaramillo recorded over 2,200 songs during his career. His most famous song is "Nuestro Juramento," which is still very popular across South America. Many people in Ecuador consider him one of the country's most beloved singers ever. He also sang with other great Latin American artists, like Daniel Santos from Puerto Rico and Olimpo Cárdenas from Ecuador.

Biography

Early Life and Music

Julio Jaramillo was born on October 1, 1935, in Guayaquil, Ecuador. His parents, Juan Pantaleón Jaramillo Erazo and Apolonia Laurido Cáceres, moved to Guayaquil for a better life. Julio had two siblings, though his sister passed away young.

Their neighbor, Ignacio Toapanta, let Julio and his brother Pepe play with his musical instruments. He even taught them how to play the guitar. Julio loved music so much that he made his own guitar from bamboo to practice more. Going to the school led by Francisco García Avilés also helped push him toward a music career.

By age 17, Julio Jaramillo was known for his beautiful voice. He started performing on radio programs at "El Condor" station. In 1950, he formed a music trio with two friends. They traveled to different parts of Ecuador, like Esmeraldas and Manabi. Sometimes, he had to work as a shoemaker to earn money. Even with challenges, he never stopped pursuing his dream of being a musician.

Starting His Career

Julio began to gain fame with his first recorded song, "Mi pobre querida Madre," in 1954. This was a duet with Fresia Saavedra. The next year, he released "Esposa," a Peruvian-style waltz, with Carlos Rubira Infante.

His big breakthrough came in 1956 with the song Fatalidad. This song was a mix of a Peruvian waltz and an Ecuadorian pasillo. It was a huge hit, selling 6,000 copies in just one week! By the end of 1956, he had released many albums.

International Success

In 1957, Julio Jaramillo became internationally famous with the bolero "Nuestro Juramento." This led to many tours across Latin America. He traveled to countries like Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. A Mexican music company, Peerless, became interested in him and sent him on more tours.

When he wasn't touring, Julio performed in movie theaters in Guayaquil. It was common then for singers to perform before movies. Because he was so popular, he started doing shows every day of the week. In 1960, he continued his successful career after a short time in military service. He performed to sold-out crowds for months at the Guayas Theater in Guayaquil. He also appeared in movies in Ecuador and Argentina.

In 1965, Julio lived in Venezuela and had successful tours in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Central America. He also recorded duets with other famous singers like Daniel Santos and Olimpo Cárdenas. Julio Jaramillo's last international tour took him to the United States and Canada. He was known for being generous with his friends. He had a large family and many children.

Later Years and Legacy

By 1975, Julio Jaramillo returned to Ecuador. His health was not good due to his busy lifestyle. In his last years, he hosted a radio show called "The J.J. Hour."

In February 1978, Julio Jaramillo had an operation. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 42 on February 9, 1978. His funeral in Guayaquil was one of the largest ever seen. About 250,000 Ecuadorians came to say goodbye. His popularity in Ecuador was similar to that of Frank Sinatra in the United States or Carlos Gardel in Argentina.

Since 1993, Julio Jaramillo's birthday, October 1, has been celebrated as a national holiday in Ecuador. It is called Día del Pasillo Ecuatoriano (Day of the Ecuadorian Pasillo).

Tribute

On October 1, 2019, Google honored Julio Jaramillo on his 84th birthday with a special Google Doodle.

Notable Songs Performed

Songs Composed by Julio Jaramillo

According to All Music Guide

See also

In Spanish: Julio Jaramillo para niños

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