Simón Díaz Biography: Children, Music, Ethnicity, Age, Awards, Wife, Band, Net Worth, Death

Simón Narciso Díaz Márquez, universally known as Simón Díaz and affectionately, was Venezuela’s most beloved singer, songwriter, musician, and cultural icon.

A master of the Venezuelan folk genre known as música llanera, he elevated the traditional sounds of the plains to international recognition, most famously through his timeless composition “Caballo viejo,” which became the global hit “Bamboleo” when adapted by the Gipsy Kings.

Profile

• Full Name: Simón Narciso Díaz Márquez
• Stage Name: Simón Díaz
• Born: August 8, 1928
• Date of death: February 19, 2014 (Aged: 85 years old)
• Birthplace: Barbacoas, Aragua state, Venezuela
• Nationality: Venezuelan
• Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Television Host
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Juan de Mata Díaz and María Márquez de Díaz
• Siblings: José Díaz Márquez
• Spouse: Betty García Abreu (m. 1963–2014)
• Children: Bettsymar Díaz García, Juan Bautista Díaz García, Simón Humberto Díaz García
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $3 million to $5 million

Early Life and Education

Simón Narciso Díaz Márquez was born on August 8, 1928, in Barbacoas, Aragua, Venezuela, into a humble llanero family. After his father, Juan de Mata Díaz, died when Simón was 12, he left school to help support his mother, María Márquez de Díaz, and siblings, including his brother José Díaz Márquez.

Largely self-taught, he learned the cuatro and traditional joropo and tonadas from plains musicians. In the 1940s, the family moved to Caracas, where he briefly studied at the Escuela Superior de Música José Ángel Lamas, though his main education came from Venezuela’s oral traditions. He was of mestizo descent and deeply connected to Catholic rural traditions.

Personal Life

Simón Díaz married Betty García Abreu in 1963; the couple had three children—Bettsymar, Juan Bautista, and Simón Humberto—and remained together for over 50 years until his death.

He lived a simple, family-oriented life between Caracas and his ranch in Cojedes state. In his final years he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, which gradually withdrew him from public life.

He passed away peacefully on February 19, 2014, in Caracas, prompting national mourning and a state funeral attended by thousands.

Career

Simón Díaz began his professional career in the late 1940s as a radio performer and cuatro player in Caracas, working with renowned groups such as Estudiantina Santa María and later as a solo artist.

His first major recording came in 1954, but it was in the 1960s and 1970s that he achieved national fame with albums like La canción de Simón, Tonadas favoritas, and the legendary Caballo viejo series.

Songs such as “Caballo viejo,” “La vaca mariposa,” “El alcaraván,” and “Tonada de luna llena” became instant classics and turned him into the voice of Venezuela’s soul.

In 1973 he created and hosted the beloved television program Contesta por Tío Simón on Venevisión, a children’s show that combined music, folklore, and education for over two decades.

His recordings earned multiple gold and platinum certifications, and his work was covered by artists worldwide—from Plácido Domingo to Caetano Veloso. He received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and was declared by UNESCO as part of Venezuela’s living heritage.

Simón Díaz’s legacy transcends generations. His compositions have been recorded in dozens of languages and are considered the cornerstone of Venezuelan folk music.

Even after retiring from live performances due to health issues, his songs continue to be played at every celebration, rodeo, and family gathering across the country, and his gentle, storytelling style remains the gold standard for authenticity in Latin American traditional music.

Net Worth

Simón Díaz’s estate was estimated at the time of his death in 2014 to be between $3 million and $5 million, accumulated through decades of record sales, royalties—particularly from “Caballo viejo” and “Bamboleo”—television appearances, live performances, and publishing rights to his extensive catalog of more than 200 compositions.

Social Media

Simón Díaz did not have social media accounts.

Discography

• 1967 – ¡Caramba!
• 1970 – Tonadas
• 1972 – Simón Díaz y su cuatro al hombro
• 1974 – Tonadas favoritas
• 1976 – Caballo viejo
• 1980 – La vaca mariposa
• 1982 – Golpe y pasaje
• 1990 – Cuenta y canta (vol. 1–4)
• 2004 – Mis canciones