Guillermo Buitrago

Guillermo de Jesús Buitrago Henríquez, known as Guillermo Buitrago (1 April 1920, in Ciénaga – 19 April 1949) was a Colombian composer and songwriter of vallenato music. He is one of the most successful composers in his country. His songs became part of the typical music played during Christmas time in Colombia. Some of his hits are "La Víspera de Año Nuevo" (New Year's Eve), "Grito Vagabundo" (Vagabond Scream), "Ron de Vinola" (Vinola Rum) and "Dame tu mujer, José" (Give me your woman, José).

Buitrago was blonde, fair skinned, tall, neatly coiffed, tie with a perfect knot, and a triumphant smile that accentuated his prominent chin and his pronounced ears. His father, Guillermo Buitrago Muñoz, was from the region of Antioquia and arrived to Ciénaga from Marinilla, most likely attracted by the "banana boom" that had been dominating Magdalena's economy for several years already by that point. There, Buitrago Muñoz married Teresa Henríquez, a native of Ciénaga, and they had 7 children, 5 of which would die before turning 30. Amongst them was Guillermo, who died at 29 when he was about to sign a big contract that was going to launch his career internationally.