El Preso

"El Preso" (translation "the prisoner") is a song recorded by Fruko y sus Tesos. It was released in 1975 with vocals by Wilson Saoko.[1] The song was composed by the band's percussionist Álvaro Velásquez.[2][3]

"El Preso"
Single by Fruko y sus Tesos
Released1975
GenreSalsa
Songwriter(s)Álvaro Velásquez

The lyrics are the narration of a prisoner ("preso") serving 30 years.[4] The actual inspiration for songwriter Velásquez was a friend's letter describing another friend's pain being jailed for 30 years on a drug charge.[5] In an interview, Julio Ernesto Estrada (aka Fruko) said it "became a world anthem of salsa music".[5]

Radio Nacional de Colombia also called the song a "universal hymn of salsa."[6]

The song has also been recognized as one of the greatest Colombian songs of all time by multiple media sources:

  • In its list of the ten most iconic Colombian songs, El Nuevo Siglo, rated La Pollera Colorá at No. 10.[7]
  • It was selected by Hip Latina in 2017 as one of the "13 Old School Songs Every Colombian Grew Up Listening To"; the publication wrote that "the infectious beat will have you dancing quite freely."[8]
  • In its list of the 50 best Colombian songs of all time, El Tiempo, Colombia's most widely circulated newspaper, ranked the song at No. 41.[9]
  • It was selected by Billboard in 2018 as one of the "15 Best Salsa Songs Ever".[10]

References
  1. "El Preso by Fruko Y Sus Tesos". University of California at Los Angeles Library. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  2. "Adiós a Álvaro Velásquez, compositor de "El Preso"". Senal Radio Colombia (in Spanish). 29 August 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  3. "Se fue Álvaro Velásquez, el autor de 'El preso'". El Heraldo.
  4. "Conozca la historia de Fruko, el teso". El Pais (in Spanish). 19 June 2011. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  5. González, Eric E. (14 December 2000). "Fruko: De Colombia para el Mundo Entero". Herencia Latina (in Spanish).
  6. "'El preso': la historia de un himno salsero a la libertad". Radio Nacional de Colombia. November 23, 2019.
  7. "Las de siempre: top 10 de las canciones más colombianas". El Nuevo Siglo. September 10, 2021.
  8. "13 Old School Songs Every Colombian Grew Up Listening To". Hiplatina.com. 18 September 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  9. "Las 50 mejores canciones de Colombia". El Tiempo.
  10. Cantor-Navas, Judy (31 May 2018). "The 15 Best Salsa Songs Ever: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
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