| Gualberto Ibarreto | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Born | July 12, 1947 El Pilar, Sucre state, Venezuela |
| Genres | Venezuelan folk music |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1970–present |
Gualberto Ibarreto (born July 12, 1947 in El Pilar, Sucre state, Venezuela), is a folk singer who plays the mandolin, cuatro, and guitar. During his childhood, he taught himself how to play several instruments after observing popular musicians of the Venezuelan east. He later received some slight knowledge of academic music from Tobías Hernandez and Raul Bennedetti. He participated at the choral of the Briceño Méndez Grammar School, and played the mandolin at the San Antonio de Padua School Band of El Tigre, Anzoátegui state. Between 1970 and 1975, Gualberto made his first presentations as a solo singer, in the auditoriums of the Central University of Venezuela and the University of the Andes. From there, he recorded his first album for Promus, a Venezuelan record label, and was also contracted by Radio Caracas Televisión. Gualberto Ibarreto has recorded more than 15 albums in which he has presented a wide diversity of folk music, especially from the Venezuelan east, with genres like: Malagueña, Jota, Galerón and Polo, interpreting songs of composers such as: Luis Mariano Rivera, Luis Guillermo González, Simón Díaz, Augusto Bracca, Enrique Hidalgo and José Enrique Sarabia, among others. This distinguished artist has made appearances in all countries in the Americas.
Gualberto Ibarreto has participated as special guest in many albums of other well known singers and groups from Venezuela and United States, such as Serenata Guayanesa, Cecilia Todd, Huáscar Barradas, Juan Carlos Salazar, El Cuarteto, Metallica ., Gustavo Cerati.among many others.
He struggled in the early 1990s to overcome a substance abuse problem, successfully dealing with his alcoholism and making a comeback. His comeback album: Hoy He Vuelto A Ser El (Today, I Am Him Once Again) became an instant hit in the Venezuelan market.