Valledupar says goodbye to the minstrel Omar Geles in the Plaza Alfonso López.
Photo: Governorate of Cesar
At the Vallenata Music Cultural and Convention Center in Valledupar, Vallenato singer and composer Omar Geles, who died on Tuesday night after suffering cardiorespiratory arrest, is laid to rest in a burning chamber.
This Wednesday at 6:00 pm his colleagues in Vallenata music will pay tribute to him in the Plaza Alfonso López de Valledupar.
Tomorrow, Thursday, May 23, at 8:00 am in Plaza Alfonso López, a series of formal events will begin to pay tribute to the “minstrel of humility.”
At 11:00 am tomorrow, Thursday, according to the Government of Cesar, the funeral will be held at the Jardines de Ecce Homo cemetery.
Tribute to Omar Geles in Plaza Alfonso López
Ernesto Mendoza sings for Geles
The singer Ernesto Mendoza sings “I have it.” “We all have something of Omar Geles, all of us,” says the interpreter.
Andreina sings “Late I met him”
The artist performs, along with Karen Lizarazo, Margarita Doria, Crisly Ospino and María Paula González, the hit by Omar Geles “Tarde lo met”, originally performed by Patricia Teherán. “Omar, here are your daughters and united as never before,” says Andreina, highlighting women in the musical genre.
Yader Romero sings “When the millions arrive”
Elder Dayan Díaz: “Omar Geles Suárez carries half of Vallenato folklore in his hands”
Elder Dayan Díaz takes the stage. “Omar Geles Suárez carries half of Vallenato folklore in his hands, perhaps more. Today I tell Valledupar that for me Diomedes Díaz died again with the death of Omar Geres.”
Tico Mercado sings to Omar Geles
Alberto “Tico” Mercado takes the stage to say goodbye to Geles. “Omar doesn’t sing anymore,” says the musician.
Gustavo Gutiérrez takes the stage
Gustavo Gutiérrez, king of the Vallenata Legend Festival, sings “The affection of my people” to Omar Geles.
Omar Geles will be honored at the Vallenato 2025 Festival
Wilfran Castillo and Ana del Castillo say goodbye to Omar Geles
Wilfran Castillo and Ana del Castillo take the stage to say goodbye to Omar Geles. The two musicians perform “Hoja en blanco”, composed by Geles and Esperanza Orozco. “I just want to say that this was a nightmare. He did everything for me. I love Omar Geles,” Ana del Castillo says between tears.
Silvestre Dangond dedicates “A black and white” to him
Silvestre Dangond takes the stage to sing the song that Omar Geles wanted to play at the time of his death. “A black and white”, by Dangond and Juancho De la Espriella. “The longest trip of my life to Valledupar,” says the singer moments before singing.
Churo Díaz takes the stage
Churo Díaz on vocals and Carlos Torres on accordion take the stage to dedicate a song to Geles. “Long live Omar Geles, Valledupar,” the singer is heard saying.
Iván Villazón sings briefly
The recent honoree at the Vallenata Legend Festival, Iván Villazón, takes the stage to dedicate a song to Omar Geles, who, he assured, left very soon. The singer decided to stop and apologizes for not being able to continue with the song.
Miguel Morales takes the stage
The musician Miguel Morales, co-founder with Geles of Los Diablitos, takes the stage to say goodbye to his partner. The vallenatero chose the song “How I Pay My God” to say goodbye to his friend. “You will always be the Omar we knew, with humility, with honesty… thank you for being my partner,” Morales said.
Tribute begins in Plaza Alfonso López
With the song “The Paths of Life”, originally recorded by Los Diablitos, Jesús Manuel Estrada and Omar Geles himself, the tribute to vallenato begins in the Plaza Alfonso López de Valledupar. Followers of the artist raised tennis rackets as they left the Departmental Library, where his remains were in a burning chamber.
The song with which Omar Geles asked to be remembered
The last time Omar Geles performed live was at the concert that Silvestre Dangond performed at the Campín Stadium in Bogotá on May 18. Geles and Dangond had a close friendship, and more than 35,000 people witnessed that complicity and affection. “Half my career is in your hands, I adore you, my black“Silvestre told me in the middle of the concert.
At one point in the concert, when Geles was on stage and as an almost premonitory act, he took the microphone and said: “If something happens to me in my life, I want you to remember me with this song,” referring to To black and white, recorded by Silvestre Dangond.
This will be the last goodbye to Omar Geles
The tributes began last night after the medical center confirmed the news. With caravans and music, family, friends and fans of the singer-songwriter began to say goodbye to him.
The message of the Vallenata Legend Festival
According to reports from the capital of Cesar, the singer was playing tennis on the Campestre club court when he fainted. After learning of the facts, the clinic issued a statement in which it deeply regrets the death of the artist.
In the document, the Erasmo Clinic clarifies the causes of the singer’s death. “He arrived at our facilities without vital signs on May 21, after suffering syncope while playing tennis. Despite the immediate therapeutic efforts made by our medical team upon his arrival, unfortunately it was not possible to resuscitate him.
