Guillermo de Jesús Buitrago Henríquez (April 1, 1920), simply known as Guillermo
Buitrago, was one of the most successful vallenato songwriters in his native
Colombia. In fact, songs like “Víspera de Año Nuevo,” “Grito Vagabundo,” and
“Ron de Vinola” have become Christmas classics in their own right. Born in the
town of Ciénaga, he got his start in music at the age of 18, playing guitar on
the children’s program La Hora Infantil. He then went on to become a renowned
jingle composer, writing songs for some of the most popular brands in Colombia.
Guillermo Buitrago eventually moved...