Willie Maldonado facts for kids

Portrait of Willie Maldonado

Willie Maldonado is a famous TV presenter from El Salvador. He was born in Guatemala City in 1943. Willie has worked in TV and radio for over 66 years, making him the TV host with the longest career in El Salvador. He is known as an entertainer, broadcaster, and producer.

Willie Maldonado's Early Life

Willie Maldonado started his amazing career very young. When he was just 12 years old, he worked as an operator at Radio International in Guatemala. By the time he was 15, he was already an announcer on Radio Cristal. At 20, he became a record producer and TV presenter on Channel 3 in Guatemala.

Willie Maldonado's Television Career

Willie Maldonado has hosted many popular TV shows throughout his career.

Early TV Shows

• 1963: Willie first appeared on TV on Channel 3 in Guatemala.
• 1966: He co-hosted "Ritmo, Sabor y Fantasia" on Channel 4 in El Salvador.
• 1967: He hosted "Disco Tints A go-go" on Channel 2 in El Salvador.
• 1968: He hosted "Golazo Royal" on Channel 2 and Channel 5 in El Salvador and Honduras.
• 1971: He hosted "Telebingo Family" in El Salvador and Nicaragua.
• 1971-1972: He hosted "Juegue, Ría y Gane," a show that made him very famous.
• 1975-1976: He produced and hosted "La Hora de Willie Maldonado" in Guatemala.
• 1976-1978: He produced and hosted the first season of "Fin de Semana" on Channel 2 in El Salvador.
• 1978: He hosted "Lluvia de Estrellas" in Nicaragua.
• 1981-1982: He co-hosted "Rincón Hogareño" in El Salvador and Guatemala.

Telethon and Other Programs

Willie Maldonado has been a key part of many Telethon events in El Salvador. These events raise money for good causes.

• 1982: He helped host the first Telethon El Salvador.
• 1983: He hosted "El Gran Pensador" in Guatemala.
• 1986: He recorded segments for "700 Club" in Spanish.
• 1987: He started the second season of "Fin de Semana" on Channel 4 in El Salvador.
• 1990: He co-hosted "No me Preguntes a mí, Pregúntale a Dios."
• 1992: He almost worked for Telemundo but chose not to because he wouldn't promote certain products.
• 2003-2014: He hosted many Telethon events with other TV stars.
• 2006: He moved "Fin de Semana" from Channel 4 to Channel 2.
• 2009: He finished the second season of "Fin de Semana."
• 2010-2014: He hosted multiple seasons of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" on Channel 4.
• 2016: He was a judge on "El Número 1 VIP" on Channel 2.
• 2018-2019: He hosted "Con Willie" on TUTV Channel 11.
• 2019-2020: He hosted "¡Gánale, tu puedes!" on Channel 8.

Willie Maldonado's Radio Career

Willie Maldonado also has a long history in radio.

Early Radio Work

• 1958: He got his first chance on the microphone at TGC Radio Cristal.
• 1959: He started "Norteamérica al aire," a popular youth radio show.
• 1961: He helped start "Radio 9-80," one of Guatemala's first youth-focused radio stations.
• 1962-1964: He co-produced and hosted "La hora de Israel."
• 1965: He helped improve "Radio Emperador" in Guatemala.
• 1966: He helped start "La Femenina," El Salvador's first youth radio station.
• 1969: He began working as a commercial broadcaster.
• 1970: He stopped being a DJ.
• 1971: He produced and hosted "Estelares" on YSU Radiocadena.
• 1975-1976: He was a correspondent for "Triunfos Musicales Latinoamericanos."

"Grandes Viejas pero Buenas" and Concerts

• 1979: He started his famous radio show "Grandes Viejas pero Buenas" (Great Oldies but Goodies).
• 1983-1985: He produced and hosted "Archivo 10.50."
• 1999: "Grandes Viejas pero Buenas" started broadcasting online worldwide.
• 2009-2017: He hosted many "GVpB" concerts at the Presidente Theater to help Hogar V. Guarato, a charity.
• 2010: He dubbed "Master Strategies" into Spanish.
• 2015-2020: He presented his radio show "The afternoon flies."
• 2017-2018: He presented "The W. Maldonado´s show" live from El Salvador to Washington, D.C.
• 2021: He started a new radio show called "We have to talk" on Radio Laser 92.9.

Willie Maldonado's Record Production

Willie Maldonado has also been a successful record producer.

• 1963: He recorded "La Aplanadora" and released his first single.
• 1964: He started his own record label called "PICARO."
• 1966: He co-founded "Central de Grabaciones."
• 1967: He recorded an instrumental version of El Salvador's National Anthem.
• 1969: He recorded a special song for El Salvador's national soccer team.
• 1971: He started the music group Fiebre Amarilla.
• 1974: He founded Estudios Doble V.
• 1979: He changed PICARO Records to DOBLE V Records.
• 1966-1983: He produced many artists during a special time for Salvadoran music.
• 1998-2009: He released many of his productions on CD, including "Super Ensalada" and "Grandes Viejas Pero Buenas" volumes. He also produced albums to help children and earthquake victims.

Special Awards and Recognitions

Willie Maldonado has received many awards for his long and important career.

• 2005: He received the "Our Stars" award for his long career.
• 2006: He won the Golden Microphone award in Guatemala.
• 2008: He received the CIBN International Award for Arts & Entertainment.
• 2012: The Presidency of El Salvador recognized his contributions to broadcasting.
• 2015: Alberto Masferrer University gave him an honorary doctorate degree in Communicology.
• 2016: The Rotary Club Maquilishuat gave him the "Award for the Salvadorean Pride."
• 2016: Andres Bello University named him "Communicator of the Year."
• 2017: Don Bosco University honored him as a "Communicator with outstanding career."
• 2018: The University Pedagógica gave him the "Maestre Integral" Award.
• 2018: The Chamber of Professional Announcers of El Salvador recognized him as a "Radio and TV Personality."

Willie Maldonado's Written Work

Willie Maldonado also worked in written media. He was the founder and editor of the "Con Permiso" section.

• 1967-1969: He wrote articles for Diario El Mundo.
• 1970-1972: He wrote a full page for Diario Latino.
• 1972-1975: He wrote an eight-page supplement for Diario El Mundo.

See also

In Spanish: Willie Maldonado para niños