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🇪🇨 Ecuador /Culture & Society

Voice of Ecuador's iconic song 'A mi lindo Ecuador' dies at 74

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Juan Paredes Guzmán, the voice behind the iconic Ecuadorian song 'A mi lindo Ecuador,' has died at age 74.
  • He was a prominent figure in Ecuadorian folk music and a co-founder of the group Pueblo Nuevo.
  • Born in Chile, Paredes Guzmán became a key artist in Ecuador's 'Nueva Canción' movement after emigrating in 1973.

Juan Paredes Guzmán, the beloved voice behind the iconic Ecuadorian song 'A mi lindo Ecuador,' has passed away at the age of 74. His death was confirmed by the Quito Metropolitan District's Culture Secretariat, leaving a significant void in Ecuadorian music.

Paredes Guzmán, originally from Chile, was a central figure in the Nueva Canción movement. He shared stages with notable artists like Víctor Jara before emigrating to Ecuador following the 1973 coup d'état. In 1975, he co-founded Pueblo Nuevo, a group that became instrumental in shaping the history of social song and Andean folklore in Ecuador.

His voice became synonymous with songs like 'A mi lindo Ecuador,' 'Cajita de Música,' and 'Atajitos de Caña.' With Pueblo Nuevo, he performed over 2,000 concerts across Ecuador and internationally, including in Spain, Russia, Sweden, Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, the United States, and Colombia. His last public appearance was on May 28, 2026, when Pueblo Nuevo received the Manuela Sáenz Liberation Decoration.

Though the cause of death has not been officially announced, various media outlets have indicated he was facing heart problems. The Secretariat of Culture expressed condolences to his family, friends, and the artistic community, acknowledging him as one of the great references of Ecuadorian music whose voice will continue to live on through his enduring songs.

With love, today I want to sing…

— Juan Paredes GuzmánThe opening lyrics of 'A mi lindo Ecuador,' a song deeply ingrained in Ecuadorian national identity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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