Overview
- Apdayc officially confirmed the death of José 'Pepe' Villalobos Cavero at age 96 on Friday, July 31, 2026.
- Villalobos was celebrated as a master improviser, cajón player and guapeos singer who helped define the modern festejo, a key genre in Afro-Peruvian music.
- He wrote enduring songs such as "Mi comadre Cocoliche" and "Mueve tu Cucú" that became staples of the criollo repertoire.
- Across his long career he recorded and performed with major figures like Óscar Avilés and Arturo 'Zambo' Cavero and received honors including Esmeraldas Musicales, Zafiro Musical and the Palmas Musicales "Eduardo Márquez Talledo."
- His work is cited as a tool of cultural memory and continues to be performed and reimagined by younger musicians, a trend that keeps Afro-Peruvian traditions visible in contemporary music.