Simón Narciso Díaz Márquez, known as Simón Díaz, was born on August 8, 1928, in Barbacoas, Guárico state (nowadays in the state of Aragua), Venezuela. He began his musical journey under the influence of his father, who played the cornet and taught him the Venezuelan cuatro. In 1963, Díaz released his first solo album, Ya llegó Simón. Díaz also ventured into acting, appearing in films such as Cuentos para mayores (1963). Throughout his career, he recorded over 70 albums, including notable works such as Golpe Y Pasaje (1980) and "Caballo viejo" from that same album, which has since been covered more than 300 times worldwide. His compositions have been performed by artists like Plácido Domingo, Julio Iglesias, and the Gipsy Kings. He received numerous awards, including the Latin Recording Academy Trustees Award in 2008. Díaz passed away on February 19, 2014, at his home in Caracas after battling Alzheimer's disease.
