Venezuelan folk singer Simon Diaz dies

Simon Diaz, one of Venezuela’s most popular singers and comedians who also earned recognition worldwide for his prowess as a player of the cuatro, a guitar-like instrument, died Feb. 19 at his home in Caracas. He was 85.

His death was announced by his daughter, Bettsimar Diaz, who did not offer further details. In recent years he had been treated for Alzheimer’s disease.

Known as “Uncle Simon,” Diaz had been a presence in the cultural life of Venezuela and neighboring South American and Caribbean countries since the mid-1950s. He first gained attention as the host of a radio show of folk music called The Plainsman, whose popularity led to a recording contract and more than 50 albums and CDs in which he mixed traditional songs and original compositions.

Diaz’s most famous recording was Caballo Viejo, or Old Horse, released in 1980. It has been recorded more than 200 times in a dozen languages by such artists as Julio Iglesias, Placido Domingo, Ry Cooder, Ray Conniff and Celia Cruz. (The Gipsy Kings’ worldwide hit Bamboleo includes excerpts from the song.)

“Sometimes people would ask me why I wanted to dedicate myself to music from the country,” Daz said in a 2005 interview, “but that is where I am from, and that is the music I felt inside of me. It was always a part of who I am. I’m inspired by the people, the work, the land, by the raw materials and the truth of nature, by the simple things that were once important.”