Ismael Querales, Venezuelan bandola player, dies
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Ismael Querales, a bandola player and founder of the musical group Un Solo Pueblo, died in Caracas, Venezuela.
He helped revive Venezuelan musical traditions in the 1970s and 80s, responding to the growing popularity of foreign music like salsa and American genres. Querales, born in Caracas in 1953, came from a musical family, his father was a tenor who also played music and taught him to value Venezuelan culture.
Throughout his career, Querales recorded 25 albums with Un Solo Pueblo and also worked on solo projects, including the album Bandolas released by the Fundación Bigott. Musicians describe him as a virtuoso bandola player, skilled in various regional styles of Venezuelan music, and a generous teacher who shared his knowledge with others. Beyond performance, Querales dedicated himself to researching and collecting traditional Venezuelan music from across the country, passing that dedication on to his daughters.
He also focused on preserving the music of Caracas itself, interpreting genres like merengue and guasa. His work helped shape a uniquely Venezuelan musical identity, and his songs such as “Caracas, Caracas” and “Viva Venezuela” are well known throughout the country.
