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A new Smithsonian Networks Film brings alive the upbeat music of Colombia's cowboy country

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Carlos Vives and Egidio Cuadrado
Colombian singer Carlos Vives (left, with Egidio Cuadrado at the 2007 festival) is bringing worldwide fame to the genre. (Ricardo Mazalan/ AP Images)

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It might not be obvious why filmmakers traveled to a remote valley near Colombia's Caribbean coast, a region best known for its drug war, to document a six-day festival of accordion music. But the fast, upbeat melodies of vallenato, as the regional Colombian music is called, have universal appeal, says the documentary's producer, Alan Tomlinson. Vallenato can "reach out across distances, perhaps create a new understanding of Colombia," he says. "Colombia does not get much written about it that's positive." On June 6, The Accordion Kings, a Smithsonian Networks film, will première at the Natural History Museum.

Vallenato is something of a musical melting pot, derived from various aspects of local history: the dominant instrument is the accordion, brought to South America by European immigrants. It's accompanied by the small caja drum, which evolved from those once used by African slaves, and also by a notched stick scraped to provide percussion called the guacharaca, which originated with Colombia's native population. The resulting music, first documented in the late 1800s, has come to define coastal Colombia almost as much as the works of author Gabriel García Márquez. In fact, the Nobel Prize winner is said to have described his epic novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, as a 400-page vallenato.

Enthusiasts say vallenato artists tell everyday stories of love and loss that have a lot in common with country music in the United States. Vallenato used to be considered low-class music for field hands, rarely played outside Colombia's cowboy country. But in recent years, Colombian singer Carlos Vives, among others, has fused vallenato with pop to create hits played across the Spanish-speaking world.

The documentary focuses on an annual competition among accordion virtuosos for the "vallenato king" crown, awarded at the festival in Valledupar, vallenato's Nashville. Wearing straw cowboy hats and jeans, the hopefuls are covered in sweat, eyes closed, bodies rocking, fingers blurring as they fly across the accordion's keys. The competition's nationally televised finale has the drama and fanfare of "American Idol." As the genre becomes mainstream, festival organizers say the competition, which promotes the traditional form of vallenato, preserves their musical heritage. "It's a way of linking you to the land, to your ancestors, your traditions," says Gabriela Febres-Cordero, the honorary president of the 40-year-old festival.

Reigning vallenato king Hugo Carlos Granados has won the crown five times—and at last year's festival he took the "king of kings" title, beating out 18 other vallenato kings in a special overarching competition that takes place once every decade. In the film he walks with a painful-looking limp, the result of a car accident after a late-night concert, but he pumps the heavy instrument with intensity. Granados, who comes from a long line of accordionists and started playing at age 5, believes the competition is about much more than showing off skill. "We are defenders of what is truly authentic vallenato," he says in Spanish by phone from Colombia. "We defend it so that vallenato music keeps going and new generations can hear it."


It might not be obvious why filmmakers traveled to a remote valley near Colombia's Caribbean coast, a region best known for its drug war, to document a six-day festival of accordion music. But the fast, upbeat melodies of vallenato, as the regional Colombian music is called, have universal appeal, says the documentary's producer, Alan Tomlinson. Vallenato can "reach out across distances, perhaps create a new understanding of Colombia," he says. "Colombia does not get much written about it that's positive." On June 6, The Accordion Kings, a Smithsonian Networks film, will première at the Natural History Museum.

Vallenato is something of a musical melting pot, derived from various aspects of local history: the dominant instrument is the accordion, brought to South America by European immigrants. It's accompanied by the small caja drum, which evolved from those once used by African slaves, and also by a notched stick scraped to provide percussion called the guacharaca, which originated with Colombia's native population. The resulting music, first documented in the late 1800s, has come to define coastal Colombia almost as much as the works of author Gabriel García Márquez. In fact, the Nobel Prize winner is said to have described his epic novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, as a 400-page vallenato.

Enthusiasts say vallenato artists tell everyday stories of love and loss that have a lot in common with country music in the United States. Vallenato used to be considered low-class music for field hands, rarely played outside Colombia's cowboy country. But in recent years, Colombian singer Carlos Vives, among others, has fused vallenato with pop to create hits played across the Spanish-speaking world.

The documentary focuses on an annual competition among accordion virtuosos for the "vallenato king" crown, awarded at the festival in Valledupar, vallenato's Nashville. Wearing straw cowboy hats and jeans, the hopefuls are covered in sweat, eyes closed, bodies rocking, fingers blurring as they fly across the accordion's keys. The competition's nationally televised finale has the drama and fanfare of "American Idol." As the genre becomes mainstream, festival organizers say the competition, which promotes the traditional form of vallenato, preserves their musical heritage. "It's a way of linking you to the land, to your ancestors, your traditions," says Gabriela Febres-Cordero, the honorary president of the 40-year-old festival.

Reigning vallenato king Hugo Carlos Granados has won the crown five times—and at last year's festival he took the "king of kings" title, beating out 18 other vallenato kings in a special overarching competition that takes place once every decade. In the film he walks with a painful-looking limp, the result of a car accident after a late-night concert, but he pumps the heavy instrument with intensity. Granados, who comes from a long line of accordionists and started playing at age 5, believes the competition is about much more than showing off skill. "We are defenders of what is truly authentic vallenato," he says in Spanish by phone from Colombia. "We defend it so that vallenato music keeps going and new generations can hear it."

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If you are a Vallenato lover, look for the film: "El Angel Del Acordeon," in which you will find the Colombian music transcend age boundaries. Check it out! You will fall in love with it!

Posted by Karen Vanegas on July 12,2011 | 08:28 PM

Smithsonian's , Guy's you have to put this Accordion Kins out there in a DVD.Please don't let us way much longer. For latinos in the USA this documentary is a treasure and for you guy's is a credit as fill makers .Great job and nice and passionate theme. Thank you for the effort. Juan Montoya.

Posted by Juan E. Montoya on May 21,2011 | 12:10 AM

Better late than never! It is 2011 and I just discovered Vallenato! Smithsonian Channel has presented this twice and I will tape this if there is no DVD coming out at this juncture. A new form of exercise--one cannot sit still (or even sit anywhere) I tried playing along on the guitar but could not sit still! Had to move when these accordionistas play! I love the puya the best! It is the hardest to play. So in 2011 is there now a DVD of this? That little angel girl and little Alejandro, I was so thrilled to see these children, my favorite part of this documentary. Please please let me know! Meantime I bought some vallenato cds. I already lost 2 inches off my waist just moving to these great rhythm. I feel like Columbus! I'm 73 and now feel 37!

Viva vallenato

Posted by Andrea Lawrence-Stuart on May 13,2011 | 01:56 AM

Please put this documentary on DVD...I'm a daughter of 2 colombian parents who werw born and raised in medellin. I would of never gotten through my battle of cancer when I was 14 with out this music, especially Carlos Vives... I am so proud to be an American...but blessed to be a Colombian..... PLEASE PUT IT ON DVD....I DONT HAVE THE SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL!!!!!!!

Posted by karla sanders on June 23,2010 | 07:22 PM

Is there a DVD of the documemtary I can buy?

Posted by German Cuberos on April 7,2010 | 09:32 PM

Could anyone please advise where "The Accordion Kings" DVD can be purchased? I attended the screening last year and I have not been able to take away from my head. This is an amazing documentary and should be made available for a bigger audience.

Posted by Andres Bedoya on April 30,2009 | 10:14 PM

What a find! I will put this festival on my list of things I must do! I have not yet been to South America but now I will surely go.

Posted by Diana Hamid on September 21,2008 | 02:17 PM

I was excited to read the article written about Vallenato music in the Smithsonian magazine. It seems like the only things written about Colombia are always negative. Colombia is a beautiful country with so much culture, great music, food and people. When our American friends have visited Colombia they are always suprised of how wonderful the people, how beautiful the country is and that they had a safe trip. Thank you Smithsonian for showing this festival and hopefully people will learn that Colombian people are hard working and don't all sell drugs for a living. We are like the people in America with a few bad apples.

Posted by patty on July 24,2008 | 06:31 PM

It's so nice to see Vallenato music moving ahead for the world to see. Such a great music that has come out of the great hearts of the wonderful people of Colombia. My new saying is "Vallenato Music, It's not just for Colombia anymore". The many Vallenato Music Groups that travel the globe are some of the nicest people you will ever come across. Use extream caution when listening to Vallenato Music for the first time. You could get hooked liked I did. What a lucky person I am to have had the privilege of meeting so many Vallenato Groups and spent time with some of them.

Posted by Tampa Vallenato on June 9,2008 | 11:53 PM

The only thing that this journalist forgot was the more important instrument in Vallenato music… the “Aiombero” yes it’s real as matter fact that Mexicans have in their Mariachi Music a peculiar vocal expression that every wants can recognize … aaa hihihi yaiii .. Shout that seem to be an allegory of crying … anyway Vallenato has the same similar yell, which just goes like “hay hombe” a Spanish expression of pain that in not more than a melancholy reminiscence of broken hearts. Normally it is fallow by another expression such as “con sentimiento vallenato” (with Vallenato feelings) Que viva Colombia Con sentiment compadre Capeto

Posted by Capeto on June 6,2008 | 12:09 PM

Look out for the documentary in some form (Smithsonian Channel, film festivals, DVD) in 2009. Until then, listen to the music on the Folkways release linked above...

Posted by David Horgan on June 3,2008 | 05:08 PM

Will we be able to see "The Accordion Kings" if we don't live in Washington D.C.?

Posted by Gary Breitbard on June 2,2008 | 11:52 PM

excelente article, brought me to tears especially since now I love Vallenato Music , being 3 months in Colombia and for my 50 birthday having a group in the home of friends, after a cabalgata of course, in Cali the most beautiful people in the world, white,black, and indigenous and my fav of all around the world Viva Colombia I live in El Salvador, since 1994, but will go see Carlos Vives and any others whenever they come to Central America Viva El Frente/Verde

Posted by Michael Johnson on June 1,2008 | 05:56 PM

The new CD, ¡Ayombe! The Heart of Colombia's Música Vallenata, is available from Smithsonian Folkways: http://www.folkways.si.edu/search/AlbumDetails.aspx?ID=3210

Posted by David Horgan on May 30,2008 | 11:23 AM



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