Kaleth Morales

Kaleth Miguel Morales Troya was born in Valledupar, Cesar, 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.[1] His song "Novios Cruzados" ("Crossed Lovers") was covered by Los Diablitos, "No Aguanta" ("It Doesn't Hold"), "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 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 the Limbo"), started as a simple tune he performed at parties, but quickly became popular when it received an official release in 2004, the same 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.

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." [2]

On 7 September 2004, Morales and accordionist Juank Ricardo premiered their video of "Vivo en el Limbo", and did a national tour of Colombia, ending in El Campín, Bogotá's soccer stadium, 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.

He fathered two children, Kathy and Samuel.

Morales's legacy includes the best-selling album, "Único" ("Unique"), with his friend Juan Ricardo, released in November 2005, shortly after his death. Único's 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,[4] months before his death, and Salserín,[5] in an homage. Sony BMG 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 a hit.

• “Music is a way of communication that humans have, and thus it helps us transform and transmit feelings; in few words, it's everything.”

• Vallenato

• Official Entry at ElVallenato.com (in Spanish)
• Interview with Kaleth Morales (in Spanish)
• Biography and song analysis (in Spanish)
• News on Kaleth Morales' death (in Spanish)
• Homage Video: "The Last Goodbye" (in Spanish)