Venezuela andina 1970s ▶ 68 subscribers

Simón Díaz

Simón Díaz, affectionately known as “Tío Simón,” was a Venezuelan singer, composer, and entertainer who became a Grammy-winning champion of Venezuelan folk music.

Origins

Active from around 1960, Díaz built a long career as a singer, actor, TV host, and comedian while devoting himself to preserving Venezuela's rural musical traditions.

The sound

His music draws on Venezuelan folk forms, especially the tonada, with a warm, plainspoken voice and a deep connection to the country's plains heritage.

Legacy

A Grammy Award-winning composer, Díaz is remembered as one of Venezuela's most cherished cultural figures, with songs like “Tonada de luna llena” and “La vaca Mariposa.”