Fredy Velásquez

PERSONAL JOURNEY. My name is José Fredy Velásquez Figueroa and I was born on November 20, 1970 in Mallama near the Putumayo rainforest (Colombia). Traveling and studying medicine in various Colombian tribes and masters such as Taita Angel Chindoy from the Kamëntsá indigenous community and Taita Gerardo Silva from the Yanacona culture, I was called to heal people through music and sacred plants. Since 2002 I have spent my life bringing the medicine and songs of my land to thousands of people around the world.

I am the former lead vocalist of the most famous folk group in Putumayo. Grupo Putumayo is a formation founded in 1985 by the Palchukán brothers (William and Jairo) originally from the Sibundoy Valley in Putumayo and members of the Kamëntsá indigenous community. The intention of the project is to remember and strengthen the indigenous heritage of the Inga and Kamëntsá peoples as well as promoting a message of nature conservation through music.

I have also been a vocalist for the groups Umbral (with Diego Mora, former member of Grupo Putumayo) and MAMBE (with Ben Harris) and have participated in an album by Arkawa (Ayahuasca, 2016) as well as Giselle World (Tribu, 2018). I am currently following my solo career that I started in 2006 (Latinoamericando).

I have been called the voice of South America. In the ceremonies I combine the ancient sacred medicine with my voice that allows us to go even deeper into the process of self-exploration.