Chilean singer-songwriter Julio Zegers has died at the age of 81, as confirmed by the Sociedad Chilena del Derecho de Autor (SCD). Known for his compositions and wins at the Viña del Mar Festival in 1970 and 1973, Zegers leaves a lasting legacy in national music, particularly during the 'canto nuevo' era.
The death of Julio Zegers, an icon of Chilean music who shaped several decades with his talent as a composer and performer, was announced this Sunday. Born into a family connected to singing, Zegers began his career almost unwittingly: 'I didn't even realize how I started composing,' according to words preserved by the site MusicaPopular.cl. Though he studied architecture at the Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, his passion for music propelled him to prominence.
His first major recognition came in 1968 at the Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar, where Gloria Simonetti took second place in the international competition with 'Para Cuando Vuelvas,' composed by him. In 1970, Zegers won as a performer with 'Canción a Magdalena,' selected as the best international song. Three years later, in 1973, he repeated the victory with 'Los Pasajeros,' a song he composed during a trip to Brazil and finished in Italy. Reflecting on this success, Zegers said: 'At that moment, it was simply a way to show my work. [...] over the years I realized the transcendence it has had when even street vendors at traffic lights have such good memories after all these years.'
After the 1973 coup d'état, Zegers joined the 'canto nuevo' movement, a cultural response to the military dictatorship. In this period, he created songs like 'A Rapa Nui,' 'Ancho camino,' 'Barcos de papel,' 'Caminado,' 'Canción del carpintero,' and 'Un día feliz,' focusing on popular themes and nature. In 1985, he released the album 'Que vivan los que regresan,' and later dedicated himself to advertising, founding an agency and composing jingles. His last discographic work was 'Canciones de Autor' in 2006.
In 2022, the SCD awarded him the title of Figura Fundamental de la Música Chilena, acknowledging his impact in the 1970s and 1980s. His passing leaves a void in the national music scene, but his work will endure.
