Carlos Vives

Before graduating with a publicist degree from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, Carlos Vives was already involved in music, joining various bands and participating in theatrical productions. His career took a significant turn in 1982 when he landed a role in the Colombian television series Tiempo Sin Huella, launching a successful acting career that later extended to Puerto Rican television.

After appearing in teen programs as both a singer and actor, Vives secured the lead role in the telenovela Gallito Ramírez, which propelled him to stardom. He later returned to his roots in Santa Marta, on Colombia's northern coast, for the telenovela Escalona. This project allowed him to reconnect with his "costeño" heritage and, more importantly, to revive classic vallenato songs by renowned composer Rafael Escalona. The soundtrack for Escalona became a massive hit, dominating radio airwaves and CD sales, and played a crucial role in popularizing vallenato music in regions of Colombia that had previously been resistant to its sound.