“Who is Rubali Valerio Calcaño ‘El Rubí del Acordeón’, the new exponent of modal music?”| Daily menu

A new pioneer of typical Dominican music was born in Santo Domingo on May 9, 1998. In the heart of the vibrant Dominican capital, a girl appeared into the world, destined to become a Perico Ribao character. She is the daughter of Zenón Valerio Recio, known in musical circles as Lupe Valerio, a talented accordion player originally from Restauración, and Ana M. Calcaño, whose roots are sunk in the fertile land of Nagua. Barely thirty days after her birth, she moved to Santiago, the city that would become her home and the cradle of her artistic dreams.

In a family where music flowed like water from an inexhaustible spring, she grew up surrounded by melodies and rhythms that marked the rhythm of her childhood. At the age of 12, a spark of interest was ignited within him, and with the accordion as an instrument and his voice as an expression, he decided to follow his father’s path. Lope Valerio not only inherited his talent, but also became his mentor, guiding every note and chord in developing his amazing skill.

In 2015, her passion led her to master her vocal art at the Nico Lora Model Music School, in the Santiago Cultural Center, where she not only improved her technique, but also joined “Los Hijos de Lupe”, a model group that embodied the musical spirit of the region.

An unexpected shift occurred in 2016 when he immigrated to the United States. This change in scenery temporarily separated her from her musical talent, but her passion never quenched. In 2021, the call of art was stronger than any obstacle, and he resumed his musical practices with renewed momentum.

Fate brought her back home in March 2023, and it was then that she decided to embrace her music career with the determination of a veteran and the freshness of a beginner. With vision and talent, he founded his own model group, naming it “Rupali Valerio – El Rubi del Accordion”, under the supervision of his father and mentor Lope Valerio. The official debut of this band, anticipated with great anticipation, is scheduled for October 14, 2023, a date that promises to be a milestone in the history of Dominican music.