Yeison Jiménez, a leading voice in Colombian música popular, has died at age 34 in a plane crash in Boyacá. Explore his life, career, and legacy.
The Colombian music world is in shock following the tragic death of Yeison Jiménez, one of the most influential voices in música popular. The singer-songwriter died on Saturday, January 10, after a plane crash near Paipa, in the department of Boyacá, Colombia. He was just 34 years old.
Colombia’s Office of Air Traffic Accidents confirmed that the aircraft, registered as N325FA, went down under circumstances that remain under investigation. The crash claimed the lives of six people, including Jiménez and his longtime manager, Jefferson Osorio. Jiménez’s press office later confirmed the devastating news to Billboard Español, sending shockwaves through fans and fellow artists across Latin America.
A Short Life, a Monumental Career
Despite his young age, Yeison Jiménez had already achieved what many artists only dream of over decades. Born in Caldas, a region deeply connected to Colombia’s coffee-growing culture, Jiménez rose from humble beginnings to become a defining figure in música popular—a genre that blends Mexican ranchera influences with Colombian storytelling and emotion.
In 2024, Jiménez reached a historic milestone by selling out Bogotá’s Movistar Arena three times. More than 40,000 fans attended the shows, marking an unprecedented achievement for a Colombian música popular artist. No one in the genre had ever accomplished that feat before.
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That moment wasn’t just a personal victory; it represented a breakthrough for música popular itself, a style that for decades lived on the margins of mainstream Colombian music.
The Roots of Música Popular
Música popular traces its origins back more than 50 years and was once known as música de carrilera or cantina music. It emerged from Colombia’s coffee axis—Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda, and Tolima—and found its audience in small towns, roadside bars, and working-class communities.
The genre was shaped by pioneers such as Darío Gómez, Luis Alberto Posada, and El Charrito Negro. Jiménez often credited Darío Gómez as the most influential force behind the movement. According to Jiménez, Gómez’s vision in the 1970s faced skepticism at first, but ultimately laid the foundation for everything that followed.
Breaking Barriers and Making History
Jiménez didn’t just honor the genre’s past—he pushed it boldly into the future. His ambition was clear: he wanted música popular to stand shoulder to shoulder with any major Latin genre on the world stage.
That vision became reality in 2024 when he sold out El Campín Stadium, becoming the first Colombian regional artist to headline the iconic venue. The achievement was widely celebrated as a turning point for música popular and Colombian regional music as a whole.
He was already preparing for a second sold-out performance at El Campín, scheduled for March 28, a show that fans were eagerly anticipating. Tragically, it will now stand as a reminder of a future cut short.
A Voice Respected by the Industry
Beyond ticket sales and records, Jiménez earned deep respect within the music industry. In 2024, he participated in a panel of música popular artists at Billboard Latin Music Week, where he spoke passionately about the genre’s evolution and its need for broader recognition.
Those who worked with him often described him as driven, grounded, and deeply connected to his audience—an artist who never forgot where he came from.
Remembering the Man Behind the Music
Offstage, Yeison Jiménez was a devoted family man. He is survived by his wife and three children, who now face life without a husband and father whose career was still reaching new heights.
Tributes have poured in from fans, fellow musicians, and cultural figures across Colombia, many calling Jiménez a symbol of perseverance and authenticity. His songs, often rooted in love, heartbreak, and everyday struggles, resonated deeply with listeners who saw their own lives reflected in his lyrics.
A Lasting Legacy
Yeison Jiménez’s death is a profound loss—not only for his family and fans, but for Colombian music as a whole. In just over a decade, he helped take música popular from local cantinas to the country’s biggest stages, proving that the genre belonged in the national spotlight.
Though his life ended far too soon, his impact will endure through the music he left behind and the doors he opened for future generations of artists.