Wilman Peña

Wilman Valerio Peña was born in Arroyo el Toro-Tamboril in 1977. To explain Wilman’s artistic career, one must go back to the early 1990s, when Wilman, at just 14 years old, was already playing several instruments: the tambora, guira, accordion, and guitar, inspired by his father, who also played the same instruments. At only 15, he realized that what had started as a simple child’s game was actually the beginning of a brilliant professional future. Thus, the son of Doña Ramona Peralta and Don Valerio Peña began to showcase his talent in public with performances at school, church, and various festivals.

Seeking to develop his skills and talent, he moved to Santiago de los Caballeros to live with a paternal relative, thereby combining work and studies to achieve greater stability in his aspiration to become a professional. In 1995, young Wilman spent a year working in the Santiago Industrial Free Zone, but he quickly realized that this was not the right path for him, as his greatest dream was to become an artist. Some obstacles arose on his artistic journey, but God introduced him to the most suitable person: his uncle Oscar Peña (who was then a saxophonist for Agapito Pascual). Oscar was looking to form his own group, and this presented Wilman with a great opportunity to play the accordion and perform alongside his sister, Anyeli Peña.