Néstor Alejandro Aguayo Jarrín
Néstor Alejandro Aguayo Jarrín (1925-2008) was an Ecuadorian singer, songwriter, guitarist and composer. He was born in Ambato, Tungurahua and was of Riobambeño ancestry. His music teacher was the Quito composer and violinist Alfonso Arauz. Aguayo Jarrin entered the army at a young age, served in the Batallón Saraguro, and spent two years in Arenillas in El Oro province. He then went to the Atahualpa anti-aircraft group, and from there to La Libertad in Santa Elena province, where he met the conscript and singer Fausto Guayamabe. In the army, in addition to fulfilling his  military duties, he listened to music on an old radio during his leisure time, and he sang tangos and pasillos for the officers and troops. After leaving the army, he settled in Guayaquil. Some time later, with Julio Vascones, he formed the Dúo Vascones Aguayo in 1942. That same year they recorded their waltz "Madrecita en tu día" for Discos Fénix then run by Luis Felipe Aguilar; they aalsorecorded the song "Ya no sufras corazón" by Juan Castro, the harpist from Pillaro. After the Duo Aguayo Huayamabe was formed with Fausto Guayamabe, the accordionist Gonzalo Godoy joined in 1955, with  whom they recorded more than two hundred songs for the major recording companies in Ecuador such as Fénix, Cóndor, Orión, Ecuador, Rondador, Caife, Ónix, etc. This duo created a series of popular waltzes (Di que me Quieres, ¿Por Qué Dios Mío?, Padre Querido, Injusticia, Espinas, Ilusión perdida, Escuchando) and pasacalles (Palomita Errante, El Chulla Riobambeño, Busco tu Amor, Nunca te olvido, Reina del Guayas) and pasillos (Besos de amor, Lágrimas). The duo, together with Gonzalo Godoy, toured the country for six months, performing with the variety troupe of Ernesto Albán. In Quito, they participated in the first Festival del Pasacalle . They had successful seasons in Guayaquil, where they performed at the Apolo, Olimpia and Presidente theatres, alternating with the best artists of the time such as Julio Jaramillo, Fressia Saavedra, Pepe Jaramillo, Trío Los Embajadores, Duo Mendoza Sangurima, Mendoza Suasti, Lucho Barrios of Peru, Los 3 Caballeros of Mexico, Los Embajadores Criollos of Peru, among others. As a guitarist, Aguayo Jarrín was part of the Conjunto de los Hermanos Castro (Rodríguez). Aguayo Jarrin, while based in Riobamba, was a member of the Trío Selecto with the singer Julio César Murillo and the requintista Víctor Hugo Terán Pino. Later, with Luis  Valencia Miranda, he formed the Dúo Valencia Aguayo, with whom he made several tours of Colombia and Central America, obtaining favourable receptions especially in Colombia, a country where they recorded ten full-length albums, among them "Las Mejores Canciones del Ecuador" (several volumes), and other discs for the Sonolux and Fuentes labels. The duo recorded a total of 16 LP records, 6 of them in Ecuador. Due to the efforts of its representative, Víctor Hugo "Chuchín" Cabrera, they also appeared on Radio Televisión Nacional de Bogotá and the Ibagué Folklore Fair. They recorded for Philips Colombia and for Polydor Germany , becoming the first Ecuadorian duo to record for the prestigious German label. In Central America they performed in hotels, movie theaters, theaters and television channels. Aguayo Jarrin became friends with Hernán Restrepo Duque, the Colombian journalist and radio broadcaster and artistic director of Sonolux records. on his trips to Medellín, Restrepo Duque led Aguayo to record with his guitar ensemble, which included Carlos Cando on requinto and Carlos Ayala on guitar. In total, they made 5 LP records, two accompanying Julio Jaramillo, two with Olimpo Cárdenas, and one with the "Dúo de Oro" of Olimpo Cárdenas and Julio Jaramillo. This  memorable LP titled "En la Cumbre" included boleros and megahits such as Azabache, Licor Bendito, Cinco Centavitos, among others. The guitar ensemble, led by Néstor Aguayo, accompanied Julio Jaramillo, Olimpos Cárdenas and Lucho Bowen on various stages in Colombia. Back in Riobamba, after the death of Luis Valencia Miranda, he created the Duo Ángel y Néstor, with which he recorded 16 songs with Ángel Lemache. As a columnist, Néstor Aguayo collaborated with several Riobamba newspapers. He was a founding member and delegate of the Society of Ecuadorian Authors and Composers (SAYCE) in Chimborazo, and a member of the Nucleus of  the C.C.E. Until his retirement in 1993, he was a secretary for 21 years at the Municipal Police Station of Cantón Riobamba. He died in Riobamba in 2008.