Kaleth Morales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available. (January 2007) |
| Kaleth Morales | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kaleth Miguel Morales Troya |
| Born | June 9, 1984 |
| Origin | Valledupar, Colombia |
| Died | August 24, 2005 (aged 21) |
| Genre(s) | Vallenato |
| Years active | 2003–2005 |
| Label(s) | Sony BMG Music Entertainment |
| Website | ElVallenato.com Entry |
Kaleth Miguel Morales Troya (June 9, 1984 – August 24, 2005) was a Colombian vallenato singer and songwriter, best known as the leader of the "Nueva Ola" ("New Wave") movement in Vallenato, with singles such as Vivo en el Limbo.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Kaleth Morales was born in Valledupar, Cesar, Colombia to singers Miguel Morales and Nevis Troya. He was one of three brothers and two sisters. When Morales was thirteen years old, he made his first musical composition, a song called Solo he Quedado ("Alone I'm Left"). Although it was never recorded, it was the song that drove him into music, and soon afterwards his father gave him a guitar to aid his creativity.
During his teenage years, Kaleth wrote a number of successful singles that were covered by different groups[1]. His song Novios Cruzados ("Crossed Lovers") was coverded by Los Diablitos, No Aguanta ("It Doesn't Hold") by Luifer Cuello, No Seré Tu Payaso ("I Won't Be Your Clown") by Los Gigantes, and Mi Reina Consentida ("My Spoiled Queen") by his father, among others.
As well as working on music, Kaleth began studying medicine at the Sinú University, in Cartagena in 2000. Afterwards he lived in Cartagena as a single father, with his daughter Katrina Lieth Morales, born in 2001.
In 2003 he released his first single, Voy a Atraparte ("I'm Gonna Catch You"), with the accordionist Manuel Julián, which proved to be an instant hit because of its fresh, playful take on traditional vallenato music.
His most famous song, Vivo En El Limbo ("I Live in the Limbo"), started as a simple tune he performed at parties, but quickly became popular until it received an official release in 2004, when he also prepared his first album for Sony BMG Music Entertainment. The album, La Hora de la Verdad ("The Hour of Truth"), was released in 2005. The album's singles, Vivo En El Limbo and La Hora de la Verdad, were sold around Ecuador and Venezuela, where they are still popular. Kaleth became a recognisable figure in the media, and his performances, usually in small venues, were held dear among.
According to Morales, he was inspired by, "....Everyday stories, my friend's lives, my own experience and even my mother has served as a muse; from my father I have learnt that you have to value the backup from the media and be thankful to the people that backs me up. My style is based in romantic lyrics, but with fast and modern arrangements, it is what I call my own journey."[2] His daughter was also a source of inspiration.
In September 7 of the same year, Morales and accordionist Juank Ricardo premiered their video of Vivo en el Limbo, and did a national tour of Colombia, ending in the Bogotá's most important soccer stadium, El Campín, where Morales appeared with other vallenato artists in the Nuestra Tierra ("Our Land") concert. After the tour ended, Kaleth did an intership in his hometown Valledupar to finish his studies.
[edit] Death
On August 23, 2005, Kaleth and his brother Keiner Morales were driving from Cartagena to Valledupar. They were between Plato and El Díficil, near the Magdalena district, when they lost control of their truck due to heavy rains. Kaleth suffered serious trauma whilst his brother suffered less serious injuries. They were sent to Bocagrande Hospital in Cartagena.
Doctors confirmed Kaleth's death on the morning of August 24 due to a marked brain edema, with a deep parietal contusion. According to the medical staff, Kaleth entered the hospital showing little signs of stabilisation, already in an unresponsive coma, and extreme hypothermia.
The next day, a march of more than ten thousand people[3] walked beside his body to Valledupar, where he was buried in the Ecce Homo Gardens amongst his family, friends, and fans.
[edit] Legacy
Kaleth Morales remains one of the most influential vallenato "New Wave" songwriters. His music, with beats that could change radically several times through a song, led this movement and made vallenato popular with the young generation once again.
His legacy includes the best-selling album released in November 2005, shortly after his death - Único ("Unique"), with his friend Juank Ricardo. Único's tracks were mostly composed and written by Kaleth. His two first albums are still popular in Ecuador. Vivo en el Limbo, similarly, has been subject to a number of covers and remixes by various groups such as Latin Dreams[4], months before his death, and Salserín [5], in an homage.
Sony BMG also released a compilation album in June 26, 2006, Kaleth Morales en Guitarra ("Kaleth Morales on Guitar"), with previously unreleased tracks such as Lo Mejor Para Los Dos (Todo de Cabeza) ("The Best For Us Both (Everything Upside down)") which became an instant hit.
[edit] Discography
[edit] La Hora de la Verdad (February 2005)
- Mis Cinco Sentidos (My Five Senses)
- Mi Hoja de Vida (My Curriculum)
- Culpable de Tu Amor (Guilty of Your Love)
- Se Va a Formar (It's Going to take Shape)
- La Reina de mis Sueños (The Queen of my Dreams)
- La Mano en el Hombro (The Hand in the Shoulder)
- Aparentemente (Apparently)
- La Hora de la Verdad (The Hour of Truth)
- La Pelusa (The Fuzz)
- Te Llamo y Te Busco (I Call You and I Seek You)
- Porque Dios lo Quiere (Because God Wants it)
- Tú No Comprendes (You Don't Understand)
- Vivo en el Limbo (I Live in the Limbo)
[edit] Único (November 2005)
- Siete Palabras (Seven Words)
- Anónimo (Anonymous)
- De Millón a Cero (From Million to Zero)
- Ella es Mi Todo (She's My Everything)
- La Película (The Movie)
- Todo El Mundo (The Whole World)
- La Purita Verdad (The Pure Truth)
- Dame Un Beso (Give Me a Kiss)
- Qué Mal Hicimos (What Wrong Did we Do)
- Sombra de Mi Alma (Shadow of My Soul)
- Mary
[edit] Kaleth Morales en Guitarra (June 2006)
- Lo Mejor Para Los Dos (Todo de Cabeza) (The Best For Us Both (Everything Upside down))
- Mis Cinco Sentidos (My five senses)
- Anónimo (Anonymous)
- Bastante Complicado (Pretty Complicated)
- Ella es Mi Todo (She is my everything)
- La Hora de la Verdad (the hour of truth)
- Qué Mal Hicimos (what wrong did we do)
- Vivo en el Limbo (living in limbo)
- Siete Palabras (seven words)
- Sombra de Mi Alma (over my soul)
- La Película (the movie)
- De Millón a Cero (from a million to zero)
- La Purita Verdad (purely truth)
- Aparentemente (apparently)
- Culpable de Tu Amor (guilty of your love)
- La Pelusa (the fuzz)
- Lo Mejor Para Los Dos (Todo de Cabeza) (Accordion Live Version)
[edit] Quotes
- “Music is a way of communication that humans have, and thus it helps us transform and transmit feelings; in few words, it's everything.”
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ RadioUno.com.co Biography: Kaleth Morales. 2005. Retrieved August 24, 2006.
- ^ ElVallenato.com Biografía de Kaleth Morales. November, 2004. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
- ^ ElVallenato.com Apostéico Recibimiento a Kaleth Morales. August 25, 2005. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
- ^ ReggaetonCartagena.com Latin Dreams covers "Vivo en el limbo".. February 11, 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2006.
- ^ Calibuenanota.com Salserín returns paying homage to the great Kaleth Morales, playing "Vivo en el Limbo" (...) in two versions, salsa and reggaeton.. August 16, 2006. Retrieved August 24, 2006.
[edit] External links
- (Spanish) Official Entry at ElVallenato.com
- (Spanish) Interview with Kaleth Morales
- (Spanish) Biography and song analysis
- (Spanish) News on Kaleth Morales' death
- (Spanish) Homage Video: "The Last Goodbye"
|
|||||||
