"The King of Vallenato," Emiliano Zuleta introduced the world at large to the accordion-powered folk music of his native Colombia via classic songs later covered by crossover Latino stars including Carlos Vives, Julio Iglesias, and Gloria Estefan. Born Emiliano Zuleta Baquero in La Jugua del Pilar on January 11, 1912, he grew up in a home with neither electricity nor running water, and acquired his first accordion by stealing the instrument from an uncle. Zuleta later wrote an original song begging forgiveness for the theft, and his uncle not only relented but gave him a new and better accordion upon discovering the extent of his nephew's talent.
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