On May 9, 1998, a new representative of typical Dominican music was born in Santo Domingo. In the heart of the vibrant Dominican capital, a girl was born who was destined to become a Perico Ripiao figure. She is the daughter of Zenón Valerio Recio, known in musical circles as Lupe Valerio, an accordion virtuoso originally from Restauración, and Ana M. Calcaño, whose roots are rooted in the fertile land of Nagua. Barely thirty days had passed since her birth when she was transferred to Santiago, the city that would become her home and the cradle of her artistic dreams.
In a family where music flowed like water from an inexhaustible source, she grew up surrounded by melodies and rhythms that shaped the rhythm of her childhood. At the age of twelve, the spark of interest ignited in him and with the accordion as a tool and his voice as an expression, he decided to follow his father’s path. Lupe Valerio not only inherited his talent, but also became his mentor, guiding every note and chord in the development of his amazing skill.
Her passion led her to perfect her vocal art in 2015 at the Ñico Lora Typical Music School at the Cultural Center of Santiago, where she not only refined her technique but also joined “Los Hijos de Lupe”, a typical group that embodied it musical soul of the region.
An unexpected turnaround came in 2016 when he emigrated to the USA. This change of scenery temporarily separated her from her musical calling, but her passion never faded. In 2021, the call of art was stronger than all obstacles and he resumed his musical activity with renewed vigor.
Fate brought her back to her homeland in March 2023, where she decided to approach her musical career with the determination of a veteran and the freshness of a newcomer. With vision and talent, he founded his own typical group under the expert leadership of his father and teacher Lupe Valerio and christened it “Rubali Valerio – El Rubí del Acordeón”. The highly anticipated official debut of this musical ensemble was scheduled for October 14, 2023, a date that promises to be a milestone in the history of Dominican music.