Calixto Ochoa honored with sculpture unveiling in Valencia de Jesús

The community of Valencia de Jesús held a commemoration to mark the 92nd anniversary of the birth of vallenato musician Calixto Ochoa and the 70th anniversary of the recording of ‘Lirio Rojo’, one of his first compositions.

The event, led by the Valledupar Mayor's Office, included a floral offering at the local cemetery and a musical performance of ‘Lirio Rojo’ by the Valledupar Municipal Band. A central highlight was the unveiling of a bronze monumental bust created by sculptor Jhon Peñaloza Almanza. The sculpture features Ochoa's likeness and incorporates musical elements, such as accordion buttons on the front and the names of his musical works on the back.

Ochoa, known as ‘Negro Calo’, was a prolific accordionist and songwriter with a catalog of over 1,000 songs, including the well-known ‘Los Sabanales’.