Cheo Linares is a Singer, Composer, Sonero, Poet and Caraqueño

National Culture Award 2023-24 and the Artistic Glories of Venezuela Award.

José Gregorio Linares Carrasco is one of the great singers, composers and defenders of Venezuelan Salsa,

Cheo Linares born in the city of Caracas-Venezuela, he has been part of groups such as La Salsa Mayor, Salsa Mágica, el Trabuco Venezolano and Saxomanía.

He is one of the most important composers of Venezuela.Linares has just been distinguished with the National Culture Award 2023-24 in the music category, so it is his first musical release since this important recognition, which surely is an encouragement to continue his work.

Last Saturday, January 11, 2024, Venezuela’s Minister of Culture, Ernesto Villegas, announced the winners of the National Culture Award 2023-24 and the Artistic Glories of Venezuela Award 2024.

The names of the artists, teachers and researchers favored by the jury as winners of the 2023-24 National Culture Award were announced by Venezuelan Minister of Culture Ernesto Villegas.

In the Music Mention, the flute master Antonio Toñito Naranjo stood out “for his career as a performer and trainer of generations of Venezuelan flutists and for his contribution to Venezuelan culture”, according to Villegas.

Antonio Naranjo is an extraordinary musician, composer and musical director, as well as a member of the group El Cuarteto, which he formed together with his brother Telésforo Naranjo and brothers Miguel and Raúl Delgado Estévez (+).

Also linked to music, but in the Popular Culture category, the National Culture Award was granted to Rafael Salazar “for his long and uninterrupted career as researcher, musicologist, composer and cultural promoter”.

It is worth mentioning that Rafael Salazar has been one of the most outstanding researchers, compilers and disseminators of Venezuelan popular culture, in addition to being the author of books dedicated to folklore.

Several extraordinary musicians received honorary mentions in the National Culture Award, such as cuatrista Daniel Enrique Gil Rosado, llanero singer Cristóbal Jiménez, master composer Henry Martínez, oriental singer Hernán Marín, and members of Los Guaraguao, Eduardo Martínez, José Gerardo Cordero and José Manuel Chachata Guerra.

Artistic Glories of Venezuela

The Artistic Glories of Venezuela award deserved a special mention, which was given to great singers such as Cecilia Todd, Lilia Vera and Biella da Costa. The first two are part of the living history of Venezuelan folklore and their voices are part of the national heritage. Biella da Costa is one of the leading figures of jazz in Venezuela.

The award was also presented to Jesús Sevillano, a singer who was part of the historic Quinteto Contrapunto. It was also received by the stupendous composer and salsa singer Cheo Linares and the popular singer José Montecano, brother of Alí Primera.

Mario Díaz, an enormous exponent of the central joropo, was also recognized as an Artistic Glory of Venezuela, as was the great composer and oriental singer Perucho Aguirre.

The same award went to the Simón Bolívar System of Children’s and Youth Choirs and Orchestras, and groups such as the parranda La Flor de Cojedes, the Teatro Negro de Barlovento or Los Cañoneros, excellent representatives of merengue rucaneao, were not left behind.

In the world of rock ‘n’ roll, the group Los Tres Tristes Tigres, the mythical Ivo, and more recently, the singer Colina, famous for his pop hits in the 80’s, shone.

Tags: Antonio Toñito Naranjo, Biella da Costa, Cecilia Todd, Chachata cultura, Eduardo Martínez, Ernesto Villegas, Glorias Artísticas de Venezuela Hernán Marín Jesús Sevillano, José Gerardo Cordero, José Montecano, lilia Vera, Los Guaraguao, Mario Díaz, Perucho Aguirre. National Culture Award and Rafael Salazar.

Cheo Linares was not even 20 years old when something unexpected happened to him. Another young man, Gonzalo Martinez, came to his house looking for him to invite him to sing with La Salsa Mayor. It was perhaps 1983.

Cheo says that his aunt was the one who opened the door and then told him: “Hey, Cheo, they are looking for you. They are asking if you want to sing in La Salsa Mayor…”. Cheo, shirtless, came out. He couldn’t believe it.

“Venezoa is a term I created to name the Venezuelan salsa music lover, to whom I dedicate this production, which in turn I extend to the salsa brothers of the planet, this CD was made with all the love, mysticism and professionalism of the musicians, technicians and designers who participated in it, to them I present my most sincere and expressive thanks for the support provided. Grateful to all the people who have supported my career, especially journalists, announcers, DJs, collectors and promoters, for all, blessings, love and light …”.

Cheo Linares.

Source: Radio Café Atlántico

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