Commonly known as “El Cacique de La Junta,” Diomedes Díaz (born on May 26, 1957)
was a hugely successful Colombian singer-songwriter who helped popularize
vallenato music in his native country. Díaz’s music career traced back to his
teenage years, working odd jobs and writing songs for other artists, most
notably the hits “La negra” and “Cariñito de mi vida” in the early 70s. Even
though it didn’t sell as expected, Herencia Vallenata (1975), his studio debut,
marked Díaz’s debut as a singer and helped get his name out there. His
breakthrough wouldn’t happen until 1978, when he re...