Kaleth Morales
Encyclopedia
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, having released singles such as Vivo en el Limbo.
, 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. 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.
In addition to 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. The single 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 when it received an official release in 2004, also the year he 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 today. Kaleth became a recognisable figure in the media, and his performances, usually in small venues, were held dear amongst many.
According to Morales, he was inspired by, "Everyday stories, my friend's lives, my own experience and even my mother... 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 [sic] up. My style is based in [sic] romantic lyrics, but with fast and modern arrangements, it is what I call my own journey." His daughter was also a source of inspiration.
On 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 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.
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 walked beside his body to Valledupar, where he was buried in the Ecce Homo Gardens amongst his family, friends, and fans.
His legacy includes the best-selling album, death Único ("Unique"), with his friend Juank Ricardo, released in November 2005, shortly after his death. Únicos tracks were mostly composed and written by Kaleth. His first two 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, months before his death, and Salserín, in an homage.
Sony BMG also released a compilation album on 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.
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
vallenato
Vallenato
Vallenato, along with cumbia, is currently a popular folk music of Colombia. It primarily comes from the Colombia's Caribbean region. Vallenato literally means "born in the valley". The valley influencing this name is located between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía de Perijá in...
singer and songwriter, best known as the leader of the "Nueva Ola" ("New Wave") movement in Vallenato, having released singles such as Vivo en el Limbo.
Biography
Kaleth Morales was born in Valledupar, CesarCesar Department
Cesar Department or simply Cesar is a department of Colombia located in the north of the country in the Caribbean region, bordering to the north with the Department of La Guajira, to the west with the Department of Magdalena and Department of Bolivar, to the south with Department of Santander, to...
, 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
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
, 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. 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
Los Gigantes
Los Gigantes is a resort town in the Santiago del Teide municipality on the west coast of the Canary Island Tenerife. Its main feature are the giant rock formations, Acantilados de Los Gigantes, that rise from the sea to a height of 500-800 metres after which the town has been named...
, and Mi Reina Consentida ("My Spoiled Queen") by his father, among others.
In addition to working on music, Kaleth began studying medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the Sinú University, in Cartagena
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
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. The single 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 when it received an official release in 2004, also the year he 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
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, where they are still popular today. Kaleth became a recognisable figure in the media, and his performances, usually in small venues, were held dear amongst many.
According to Morales, he was inspired by, "Everyday stories, my friend's lives, my own experience and even my mother... 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 [sic] up. My style is based in [sic] romantic lyrics, but with fast and modern arrangements, it is what I call my own journey." His daughter was also a source of inspiration.
On 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 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.
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 MagdalenaMagdalena
Magdalena is the original version of the name Magdalene , and is used in Czech, German, Dutch, Swedish, Spanish, Bulgarian, Polish, Slovak, Georgian, Slovene among other languages.Magdalena may also refer to:...
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
Edema
Edema or oedema ; both words from the Greek , oídēma "swelling"), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body that produces swelling...
, with a deep parietal contusion. According to the medical staff, Kaleth entered the hospital showing little signs of stabilisation, already in an unresponsive coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
, and extreme hypothermia
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...
.
The next day, a march of more than ten thousand people walked beside his body to Valledupar, where he was buried in the Ecce Homo Gardens amongst his family, friends, and fans.
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 even with the next generation of youth.His legacy includes the best-selling album, death Único ("Unique"), with his friend Juank Ricardo, released in November 2005, shortly after his death. Únicos tracks were mostly composed and written by Kaleth. His first two 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, months before his death, and Salserín, in an homage.
Sony BMG also released a compilation album on 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.
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)
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
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 (shadow of 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)
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.”