Valentín Elizalde Valencia (Spanish: [balenˈtin eliˈsalde βaˈlensja]; 1 February 1979 – 25 November 2006) was a regional Mexican singer. Nicknamed "El Gallo de Oro" (The Golden Rooster), he was known for his off-key style and his biggest hits included: "Vete Ya," "Ebrio de Amor", " Vete Con Él", "Vuelve Cariñito", "Cómo Me Duele", "Vencedor", " Mi Virgencita", and "Soy Así" (a cover of José José's classic song).[2] Some of his songs were narcocorridos eulogizing Mexican drug lords like Vicente Carrillo Fuentes. He was murdered in an ambush; allegedly by members of the drug trafficking cartel Los Zetas, which at that time served as the armed wing of the Gulf Cartel.[3][4]
Valentín Elizalde | |
|---|---|
 Elizalde in 2006 | |
| Born | Valentín Elizalde Valencia 1 February 1979 |
| Died | 25 November 2006 (aged 27) Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico |
| Cause of death | Murder (gunshot wounds) |
| Other names | El Gallo de Oro |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Regional Mexican |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1998–2006 |
| Signature | |
 | |
Life and career edit
Valentín Elizalde Valencia was born in Jitonhueca, a village near the city of Etchojoa, Sonora. He then moved to Guadalajara, Jalisco, and later to Guasave, Sinaloa, where he, his father (also a singer), Everardo "Lalo" Elizalde, nicknamed "El Gallo" (The Rooster), and brothers resided for a few years. His father died in a car accident on the so-called "Curva de la muerte" (Curve of Death) in the city of Villa Juárez, Sonora. Elizalde's ex-partner and mother of his second daughter, Blanca Vianey Durán Brambila, was murdered on 20 June 2016 in Cajeme, Sonora.[5]
Murder edit
On 25 November 2006, Elizalde’s vehicle was gunned down shortly after leaving a concert in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Elizalde, aged 27 at the time, was killed, along with his chauffeur and his assistant.[6] It is widely believed that Elizalde was killed for his concert performances of the corrido, "A Mis Enemigos", which contains lyrics believed to antagonize drug trafficking gang Los Zetas.[7] Raúl Hernández Barrón, alleged murderer of Elizalde and member of Los Zetas, was arrested on 22 March 2008 in Coatzintla, Veracruz.[4]
In 2007, Elizalde was nominated posthumously for the Grammy Awards.
Discography edit
- Albums[8]
- Amor que Muere (1998)
- Regresan los Mafiosos (1999)
- Traición Federal (2000)
- 17 Éxitos en Honor a mi Padre (2001)
- Y se Parece a Ti (2002)
- Mi Satisfacción (2003)
- Corridos Entre Amigos (2003)
- Herencia Mexicana (2004)
- Volveré a Amar (2004)
- Soy Así (2005)
- Vencedor (2006)
- Posthumous albums[8]
- La Playa (2007)
- Lobo Domesticado (2007)
- Más Allá del Mar (2007)
- 15 Éxitos (2007)
References edit
- ^ Evan C. Gutierrez. Valentín Elizalde at AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- ^ Héctor Tobar, (25 November 2006). Mexican pop singer gunned down. Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Manuel Roig-Franzia, Mexican Drug Cartels Leave a Bloody Trail on YouTube, The Washington Post, 9 April 2007; Page A01.
- ^ a b "Detienen a presunto asesino de Valentín Elizalde" [Alleged murderer of Valentín Elizalde has been arrested] (in Spanish). 26 March 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- ^ Zeta (20 June 2016). "Ejecutan a ex pareja de Valentín Elizalde". ZETA - Libre como el viento. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- ^ "Asesinato de Valentin Elizalde El Gallode Oro Muerte" (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- ^ Michael Deibert (2014). In the Shadow of Saint Death: The Gulf Cartel and the Price of America's Drug War in Mexico. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-7627-9125-5.
- ^ a b "Valentín Elizalde". MusicBrainz. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
