Photo: CanalCNCValledupar · CC BY 3.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Jorge Oñate
Person · male · Colombia · La Paz · born 1949 · died 2021 · recording since 1970
Colombian vallenato singer
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Also known as Jorge Antonio Oñate · Jorge Antonio Oñate González · 豪尔赫·奥尼亚特
Timeline
19 events▣ Album 15◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1✦ Award 1† Death 1
1940s
1970s
· Debut release
Debut release: Lo último en vallenatos!
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography419 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1370764010
Biography
Jorge Antonio Oñate González (31 March 1949 – 28 February 2021) was a Colombian singer and composer, one of the most renowned of the vallenato musical genre. As of 2004 and since the beginning of his career in 1968 he had achieved 25 gold discs, 7 platinum discs and 6 double platinum for his sales, among other numerous musical accomplishments. He had also successfully entered politics as councilor of his hometown, while deputising for Alfredo Cuello Dávila, representing the department of Cesar.
Early years
Oñate grew up in the small town of La Paz close to Valledupar where he studied until graduating from high school, he was known for having a great aptitude for singing vallenatos. He was also a football player.
Career
In 1968 after High School, Oñate was hired by a local vallenato group called "Los Guatapuri" as the lead singer and officially started his career as vallenato singer. The group released an album titled Festival Vallenato. In 1969, he teamed up with the already locally famous Hermanos Lopez vallenato group once again as lead singer, releasing the album Lo Último en Vallenatos!Lo último en vallenatos!Spotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Berta calderaA2RecuerdosA3Diciembre alegreA4Vamonos compañeraA5Secreto raroA6Gallo viejoB1Mis viejosB2Siniestro de ovejasB3La pazB4Me quisiste y me olvidasteB5LigiaB6Mi morenita.
In 1970 Oñate released his second album with the Hermanos Lopez titled Diosa Divina while he also recorded an album with accordion player Nelson Diaz, titled Conmigo es el Baile. In 1971 Oñate and Hermanos Lopez recorded the album El Jardincito. In 1972 they released the album Reyes VallenatosReyes vallenatosSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Recordando mi niñezA2Soy estudianteA3Preguntas y respuestasA4Estelita GonzalezA5La casitaA6Mujeres que me dejaronB1Tiempos de la cometaB2Bajo el palo e' mangoB3El cambioB4El puente de María AngolaB5AmparitoB6La vieja Gabriela. In 1973 the album El Cantor de Fonseca was released while Las Bodas de Plata appeared in the same year.
In 1974 they recorded another two albums, the first one Fuera de Concurso. The second one was named Rosa Jardinera.
Oñate more lately performed with one of the youngest accordionists in Colombia, Christian Camilo Peña - only 21 years old, he has already achieved a crown of king in the Vallenato Legend Festival celebrated every year in Valledupar. They recorded three albums together: Seguire Triunfando (2004), Vivo Cantando
Vivo cantandoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Mi gaviota4:242Probame4:523El ruego de un trovador4:324La pisinga3:545Me Cansé4:186Vivo cantando3:507Alondra4:468Las mujeres no pasan de moda4:209Ese es el destino4:3610Carita de virgen4:3211Cultivo de penas4:0112La vida sigue4:1413Un te amo y un te quiero4:2314Mi mejor equipo4:05 (2005) and Mi Mejor Regalo (2006). In 2010, Oñate was presented with the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Latin Recording Academy in 2010.
Personal life
Oñate was son of Daniel Gonzalez and Delfina Oñate and was the youngest of three siblings. He married Nancy Zuleta and had three children with her; Jorge Luis, Delfina Ines and Jorge Daniel. He also had another son (also named Jorge) from an extramarital relationship with a woman named Claudia Dangond.
Oñate died of complications related to COVID-19 on 28 February 2021, one month short of his 72nd birthday, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 12 | 64.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 21 | 87.5th |
| Studio albums | 15 | 94.6th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 19 | 93.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 51 | 91.8th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (21 release groups · 15 studio albums)
Albums · 15
1970 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks
A1Berta calderaA2RecuerdosA3Diciembre alegreA4Vamonos compañeraA5Secreto raroA6Gallo viejoB1Mis viejosB2Siniestro de ovejasB3La pazB4Me quisiste y me olvidasteB5LigiaB6Mi morenita1972 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks
A1Recordando mi niñezA2Soy estudianteA3Preguntas y respuestasA4Estelita GonzalezA5La casitaA6Mujeres que me dejaronB1Tiempos de la cometaB2Bajo el palo e' mangoB3El cambioB4El puente de María AngolaB5AmparitoB6La vieja Gabriela1975 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks
A1Tu enamoradoA2Alicia la campesinaA3Solo por tiA4Alegre viveA5Rumor lejanoA6Delirios de acordeónB1Cerro de MurilloB2Déjala venirB3Bello castilloB4RemembranzasB5Canto a mi tierra1978 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 42:34
1El copete3:412Corazón chantajista3:493Dulce cariño3:354Dos corazones3:425Amor gigante3:166Muchachita querida3:227Nido de amor5:098La pajarita3:149Amor comprado4:2010El cambio de mi vida4:0611La parrandita4:201983 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 47:00
1El corazón del valle5:332Hombre enamorado3:363Dame un besito3:294A usted puedo contarle4:505El soncito3:556Cuatro penas4:267Amor de mi tierra4:358Así es como vivo yo4:289Calma mi melancolía3:4810Si yo pudiera4:0011Tus ojos negros4:201990 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 48:00
A1El más fuerte4:49A2Llegó tu marido4:31A3No comprendí tu amor4:46A4Unidos de nuevo4:28A5De aquí no me voy5:01B1El golpe3:41B2El amor no es duradero4:19B3El pintor enamorado3:18B4La voz de Dios4:41B5Luna de miel4:18B6Tanto amor4:081992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 47:32
1Los adioses de mi vida4:222Maluquito pero sabroso5:093Un día el amor4:354Una aventura más4:145Ay ve4:246La enchoya4:177El testamento4:118El hombre bueno4:009Una gota de fuego4:1710El amigo del mar4:0811Cantando con sentimiento3:551996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 38:16
1Los gavilanes3:342Cadenas3:333Caminto verde2:354Abrazo guajiro3:205La inconforme3:006Ella3:207Que vaina las mujeres3:148Igual que aquella noche3:009Razón profunda2:5010El cardenal2:4511Terrible pena (El cantinero)3:2012Mujer infiel3:452002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:09:23
1El invencible4:492Sí sí sí4:273Amor sin final5:274Mosaico: Se acabó quien te quería, Llegó el Carnaval, Puya y hunde, Se va se va, El cebú, pie pelúo4:505No me ves llorando4:206Amalaya " la espina "4:197La chica desconcertante5:008Así es que me gusta a mi4:369Te daré mis besos4:0510Las mujeres buenas5:0511A déjate es que voy4:1612El más enamorado4:3213Un beso por tu olvido4:4114Flamenco4:2515Se te fueron las luces4:312005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:00:47
1Mi gaviota4:242Probame4:523El ruego de un trovador4:324La pisinga3:545Me Cansé4:186Vivo cantando3:507Alondra4:468Las mujeres no pasan de moda4:209Ese es el destino4:3610Carita de virgen4:3211Cultivo de penas4:0112La vida sigue4:1413Un te amo y un te quiero4:2314Mi mejor equipo4:05Te dedico mis triunfos "La aplanadora"
2009 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:05:22
1Te dedico mis triunfos4:322La aplanadora4:373Lucerito4:254Soy tu dueño4:125Quién iba a decirlo4:516Historias de mis cantos4:307Mía nada más4:168Quiere volver4:059Esos renaceres4:2710El compadre Peyo4:0711Es imposible4:1212La pega pega3:5713La llanerita4:3014Qué es lo qué quieren4:2415Tu indecisión4:172016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 59:09
1Patrimonio cultural4:442Meneando la batea4:243Seductora4:404La crítica4:025Sueña corazón4:146Las mujeres3:587Escalando mi montaña4:378Aquí estoy yo4:279Dueño de tu vida4:3510Solamente mía3:4311Por qué será3:3712Pégate a la sabrosura4:1413Algo te diré3:5114La aventurita4:032017 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 56:25
1El poder de mis canciones4:042Vente pa’cá3:533Si no estás en mí4:134Un amor tan grande4:285Se te hizo tarde4:336La protagonista4:527La mariposa3:478Introducción / Culebra cascabel / Tres punta / El sampao / El pasmao4:509Un beso eterno4:5310Enamorado4:1211Dime quién eres4:2112Ayapel3:5113Reina de reinas4:282017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 59:18
1Por volverte a ver4:502Sube y baja5:393Dime tú4:434El comisario4:235Muñeco de papel5:046Ana Felicia3:517Llévame contigo4:328La vaina ya se formó / Danza del congo grande / Pum para qué / Empújale la aguja4:189Cuentas por amor4:2410Gavilán del paraíso4:0911Nacen ilusiones4:2012El bobo4:4113El gobernao4:242022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:05:47
1Serás recuerdo lejano4:402Eso no te luce4:403Solo tú sabes4:144Solo canto4:145A mi padre4:076Porque cantas como yo4:077Me la llevo3:328Busco un amor4:369Mil momentos sin dicha4:3310Contigo olvido las penas3:4611Brillará otra esperanza4:5412Voy a enamorarte4:3913Gracias señor4:5914Maribel4:1415No había razón4:32
Album · 2
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 40 años de parrandaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks · 45:501Los vi corriendo4:13 2Se te fueron las luces4:00 3Sí, sí, sí5:14 4Alicia adorada4:56 5Igual que aquella noche / Nido de amor / El cantor de Fonseca5:36 6El plan B4:35 7La coqueta4:11 8Amalaya (La espina)3:18 9No comprendí tu amor5:19 10La vieja Sara0:28 11Qué tienes que me vuelves loco4:00 | Live | 2008 | |
| 2010 | Historia musicalSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 26 tracks · 1:19:30Disc 1 1Alicia adorada4:56 2La fiestra de la patrona4:08 3Se te fueron las luces4:00 4Llégo, gustó y se quedó4:30 5No comprendí tu amor7:33 6El invencible5:26 7Amayala "La espina"4:21 8El plan b4:36 9La coqueta4:12 10La paloma4:34 11La vieja Sara6:20 12Sí, sí, sí5:38 13Qué tienes que me vuelves loco5:44 14Si no me aceptas4:31 15Triste soñador4:35 16Mi mejor regalo4:26 Disc 21Se te fueron las luces 2La paloma 3No comprendí tu amor 4La vieja Sara 5El plan b 6El invencible 7Sí, sí, sí 8Amalaya "La espina" 9Qué tienes que me vuelves loco 10Si no me abrazas | Compilation | 2010 |
Single · 4
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Meneando la bateaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 4:181Meneando la batea4:18 | 11 November 2016 | ||
| 2018 | La barra de mi gente (Mosaico)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 4:161La barra de mi gente (Mosaico)4:16 | 23 November 2018 | ||
| 2019 | Volví a llorarSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:581Volví a llorar3:58 | 20 December 2019 | ||
| 2019 | Firi, firiSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:111Firi, firi3:11 | 20 December 2019 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Jorge Oñate head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 12 | 64.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 21 | 87.5th |
| Studio albums | 15 | 94.6th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 19 | 93.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 51 | 91.8th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award | lifetime |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jorge_O%C3%B1ate.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5198c684-0b1a-41d7-a8ba-cd9651947c52discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5198c684-0b1a-41d7-a8ba-cd9651947c52core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6278435genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6278435seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_O%C3%B1atebiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_O%C3%B1ate
Why this artist is in the database
- List of singer-songwriters
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: CanalCNCValledupar · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q6278435 · MusicBrainz: 5198c684-0b1a-41d7-a8ba-cd9651947c52
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