Bacilos

Based in Miami, FL, Bacilos are an acclaimed rock en español band led by Colombian-born singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jorge Villamizar. Born October 14, 1970, in Montería, Córdoba, Colombia, Villamizar moved with his family to Quito, Ecuador, at age ten. Influenced by the Beatles as well as folk music of the Andes, he took a deep interest in music during these years. At age 15 he attended a Soda Stereo concert in Quito that left a lasting impression upon him and inspired him to make music of his own. At age 18 he returned to Colombia and joined the Navy, where he passed the time with songwriting and guitar playing. He subsequently moved to London to study for a while and then moved to Miami, FL, in 1992. During the mid-'90s, while he was attending the University of Miami, Villamizar formed Bacilos with classmates André Lopes (bass; of Brazilian heritage) and José Javier Freire (percussion; of Puerto Rican heritage). Bacilos made their full-length recording debut with the independently released album Madera (1999). A major-label recording contract with Warner Music Latina followed, resulting in a series of acclaimed albums -- Bacilos (2000), Caraluna (2002), and Sin Vergüenza (2004) -- and a greatest-hits collection, Grandes Exitos (2006). Over the years Bacilos won multiple Latin Grammys and scored several hit singles, most notably "Tabaco y Chanel," "Caraluna," "Mi Primer Millón," "Pasos de Gigante," and "Contigo Se Va." In addition, Villamizar outsourced his songwriting ability, co-writing songs with Marc Anthony ("Viviendo"), Obie Bermúdez ("Así Me Siento Hoy"), Julieta Venegas ("Limón y Sal"), and others; plus, he co-wrote several songs on Paulina Rubio's album Pau-Latina (2004). On February 21, 2007, at the Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar in Chile, Bacilos performed for the final time. Following the band's breakup, Villamizar embarked on a solo career, releasing the album Jorge Villamizar in 2008.