Rafael Ricardo and Otto Serge formed the ‘perfect duo’ of vallenato for 19 years. Some disagreements destroyed the harmony of the musical duo, leading to their disintegration and a lifelong feud. Their separation caused chaos in the vallenato guild and still gives something to talk about today..
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Few vallenato duos have achieved the success that the vallenato singer Otto Serge and the accordion player Rafael Ricardo obtained; songs like Blessed doubt, The Owl and Lady They made them immortal among vallenato lovers. Many of those who saw them play together claim that It seemed like they were born to be together.
“Rafa and Otto were the perfect duo. Rafa was the only one who could give Otto Serge the exact tone so that he could sing well in tune and not be out of tune at any time,” says musician Hernando Sierra. Serge’s voice was full of feeling, as was Rafa’s accordion, Well, he didn’t play just any instrument, but the one with piano keys.
Mauricio Ricardo, son of Rafael Ricardo, remembers that his father told him that his talent with the accordion was “a gift from God, that he put his fingers where he felt the melodies would sound beautiful.” Pipe Peláez, vallenato singer, points out that “Rafa played with his eyes closed”.
Why did Rafael Ricardo and Otto Serge separate?
After 19 years of a successful ‘musical marriage’, the divorce between Otto Serge and Rafael Ricardo caused a wave of sadness in the vallenato world, leaving the genre to this day without a duo like that of these two artists.
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The singer and the accordion player were unable to reach agreements on their joint musical project and decided to go their separate ways. Hernando Sierra says today that “it seems to me that both of them were at fault because they didn’t think big.”
Those who had the opportunity to work and be friends with the two point out that The pride of both of them overcame them and managed to ensure that, although they both regretted the separation, they never spoke to each other again..
Rodrigo Ricardo, son of the accordion player, reveals to Expediente Final that “they never reached an agreement. After they separated, “They never spoke again, they were not on very good terms.”.
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Otto Serge seemed at the time to be Rafael Ricardo’s eternal teammate, his musical soulmate and his companion in great battles. That is why, when the accordion player died of a stroke on June 21, 2023, many were waiting for the singer’s words about the one who for almost 20 years adorned his voice with the sweetest melodies.
On the contrary, For the followers and relatives of Rafael Ricardo it was painful to see how Otto Serge remained silent on the day of his death.
Ramiro Ricardo, brother of the late vallenato artist, remembers that days after the death: “They pay tribute to Rafa and many friends go, who were Rafa’s party friends, Rafa’s party partners go and sing. Otto Serge was not present, Otto Serge did not write me his condolences, to say that: ‘Rami, I’m sorry.’ So for me, Otto Serge is bad law.”
