The BE MORE publishing house is proud to announce the release of the new book by journalist and music researcher Robert Téllez M.
The work offers a deep dive into the social and narrative dimensions of the compositions of Jairo Varela, founder of the world-renowned Grupo Niche. It illustrates how his lyrics transcend music to become chronicles that interpret Latin American reality.
More than just a repertoire of songs, Jairo Varela’s legacy serves as a testament to memory and identity, born from his profound Afro-descendant roots. From this perspective, the book develops a discourse analysis that explores the symbols and meanings structuring his lyrics within a historical and social context.
Categorized within the field of ethnomusicology, the literary work proposes a rare perspective in Salsa studies: understanding Jairo Varela as a narrator of social reality.
“Through his lyrics, Jairo Varela challenged indifference, exposing what many preferred to keep silent,” states author Robert Téllez M.
To develop this research, the author brought together an interdisciplinary team of specialists in anthropology, communication, law, education, history, linguistics, music, journalism, and poetry from across Latin America. This diversity shapes a study organized into seven chapters, where symbols, metaphors, and narrative structures within Varela’s songwriting are analyzed and deconstructed.
“With an honesty that never yielded to artifice, Jairo Varela mapped the social landscape of everyday life; he narrated the intimate without betraying the collective, all in an effort to better understand the world,” Téllez notes.
As an innovative feature, the book Jairo Varela: Music, Identity, and Social Narrative incorporates QR codes that lead directly to Maestro Varela’s compositions. Each code allows the reader to use their mobile device to access the songs analyzed via Grupo Niche’s profile on Spotify, enhancing the connection between the written word and musical creation.
The publication also includes a prologue by writer Bella Martínez, illustrations by Frank Rosado, and photographs from the Varela family archive—elements that provide essential context to the composer’s creative universe.
Jairo Varela: Music, Identity, and Social Narrative is now available to the public on Amazon, with worldwide shipping.
The Book: Jairo Varela. Music, Identity, and Social Narrative
Jairo Varela (1949–2012)
Varela was the creator and founder of the iconic Grupo Niche and one of the most influential figures in Colombian Salsa. It was Jairo Varela who built the prestige of this orchestra through his artistic vision and his talent as a composer and director. With those five letters Niche Varela changed the course of Salsa made in Colombia, elevating it to a level of international respect.
Throughout his musical career, Jairo Varela wrote hundreds of songs and produced dozens of albums for his group. His compositions including “Cali Pachanguero” (recognized by Billboard magazine as one of the 50 most important songs in the history of Latin music), “Buenaventura y Caney,” “Mi pueblo natal,” “Ana Milé,” “Un caso social,” and “Han cogido la cosa” have traveled the world and become classics. In his lyrics, Varela portrayed everyday Latin American stories and the identity of Afro-descendant communities.
When Grupo Niche’s music plays, there is something for every listener. Behind that diversity lies the creative intuition of Jairo Varela, a composer who knew how to turn local stories into universal emotions. For this reason, from its beginnings in the late seventies to its international acclaim, the group has brought the rhythmic power, joy, and character of its culture to stages worldwide.
About the Author
Robert Téllez M. is a social communicator, radio and TV broadcaster, and producer with over 20 years of experience. He is an accomplished interviewer, journalist, and music researcher.
His analyses and reflections have been published in outlets such as Revista Semana, El Espectador, El Tiempo, El País, La República, and Agencia EFE, among others. He has also contributed to the scientific journal Nómadas of the Universidad Central de Colombia.
Robert Téllez is also the author of Ray Barretto: Giant Force (2016), whose English translation won a silver medal for Best Translation (Spanish to English) at the 2021 International Latino Book Awards.
In 2019, he presented the authorized biography Willie Rosario: The King of Rhythm, with a second edition released in 2024. He served as a judge for the annual international minimalist poetry contest for the anthology titled Siglema 575: Say What You Want to Say (2024).
As a result of his extensive research, Robert Téllez serves as a consultant and lecturer on topics related to the appreciation of Salsa music.
Press Contact: [email protected]
Also Read: Willie Rosario, El Rey del ritmo by journalist and music researcher Robert Téllez M.
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