Guillermo "Willy" Oddó

Guillermo Oddó
Guillermo Oddó
Birth name	Guillermo Oddó Parraguez
Born	October 14, 1943; Santiago de Chile
Died	November 7, 1991 (aged 48); Santiago de Chile
Genres	Nueva Cancion Chilena, Protest music, Chilean music
Occupation(s)	Musician, Singer
Instrument(s)	Spanish guitar, Quena, Percussion, Baritone
Years active	1967–1987
Labels	DICAP, EMI, Warner

Guillermo "Willy" Oddó Parraguez (October 14, 1943 – November 7, 1991) was a Chilean musician and engineer known as a leading vocalist in the Chilean folk music ensemble, Quilapayún between 1967 and 1987.

Biography

Oddó was born in Chile and studied at the State Technical University in Santiago de Chile, where he participated in the musical "peñas" and other cultural and student activities together with Hernan Gomez. He spent some time at the Naval Academy where he showed an aptitude for playing football. He joined Quilapayún in 1967 to replace Julio Numhauser (who left the group) and he rapidly become the most distinctive and loved member of the musical ensemble.

He was Quilapayun's baritenor and played guitar, winds, percussion and was central on stage during live performances. He was the solo vocal on a number of songs, including Canto a la Pampa of the X Vietnam album, La Carta from the Basta album, Soy obrero pampino... of the Cantata Santa María de Iquique, and Pido Castigo. He was a lover of Argentine folk music (especially of tangos and zambas) and a great fan of Carlos Gardel and Los Fronterizos.

Oddó remained in exile in France until 1987 when he left to work in Argentina. Once democracy returned to his native country in the late 1980s, he moved to Chile and worked at the Municipality of Santiago until November 7, 1991, when he was assassinated in a night-time incident.