Biography
Quelentaro was formed in 1960. Its original members were brothers Gaston and Eduardo Guzman, Felipe Mendez (Tatayaya) Valericio Leppe, Arinaldo Eladio Lopez and Alvarez, Guzman brothers being born to peasant parents of Mapuche descent, were the most stable members during most of the groups history.
Their first album was "Carpa de la Reina de Violeta Parra", because Violeta helped Quelentaro when they were starting up. After recording the album "Huella Campesina" in 1967 the group disbanded becoming Quelentaro the duo of brothers Guzmán.
The group released several albums and several hits during the government of Salvador Allende (1970-1973) the group was part of activities sponsored by the government for the trade unions, clubs and television. For the military coup (1973), Eduardo was exiled from Chile during returning for 20 years.
When visiting Argentina and Europe, Eduardo writes several letters to his brother Gaston, who played musicalized them and this became the album "Qué de caminos" (1977). Meanwhile, Gaston Quelentaro assumes the band leadership, and continues to make presentations. By 1978, the album "Buscando Siembra", which includes one of the most emblematic songs including -Copla del Hijo- is released. Over the next years the group will continue editing albums and touring Europe and playing for the BBC.
"Después de la tormenta", production in 1989, marks the return to Chilean soil, after the dictatorship ended. The group returns to make presentations throughout Chile and in 1996 released the album "8 de Marzo".
During the decade of 1990, EMI publishes several compiled albums on CD. Among the records released highlights "Buscando Siembra" and "Después de la Tormenta" 1996.
In 2003, the group received the " Presidente de la República" Award for their long contribution to music in Chile. That same year, the duo released their first book "Anocheciendo", which runs through their musical history.
In 2005 they publish a second book "Desde mi cuarto", a poetic historical of their artwork, and their album "Por Siempre" emerging as a way to release old live songs that the label had not wanted to release, but since the expiration of intellectual property rights, Quelentaro could now make use of them.
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