HE SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE SELLING VEGETABLES — AT 80, HE HAS BECOME A MUSIC STAR IN CHILE

For decades, Luis Alberto Gómez was known as a market trader in Valparaíso, Chile. He had worked selling vegetables since childhood, never expecting that the music he loved would one day take him onto concert stages and win him admirers far beyond his hometown.

Now 80, Gómez, known by his nickname JM, performs with Los Crack del Puerto, a band dedicated to traditional Chilean music. His unexpected journey is a reminder that a lifelong passion can find a new audience even when someone believes their path is already set.

A Childhood Marked by Hardship

Born in Valparaíso in 1945, Gómez experienced loss at an early age. His father died when he was three, and he lost his mother at ten. For a period, he slept outdoors between parked cars before relatives took him in.

Music was part of the city around him. Valparaíso has a rich musical culture shaped by its port, its communities and generations of performers. Styles such as bolero, tango, waltz and cueca remained familiar parts of local life.

As a boy, Gómez would sing alongside his cousin Juan Navarro, known as Juanín, when his cousin played guitar for friends. Their shared love of music would eventually become a defining part of his life.

From the Market to the Music Scene

While Juanín pursued a career in the police, Gómez continued working at the market. He spent decades selling vegetables, even as he and his cousin entertained audiences in local bars during their spare time.

Their partnership worked because the two men had different strengths. Juanín played guitar and provided the musical foundation, while JM brought humour, charisma and an energetic stage presence that made audiences respond.

For years, performing remained a passion alongside his everyday work. Gómez did not set out to become famous, and he continued to identify himself as a market trader long after music became a larger part of his life.

A New Chapter Began in His Seventies

In 2017, Gómez and Juanín decided to take their music more seriously. They formed Los Crack del Puerto with a group of local musicians, bringing traditional songs to a wider audience.

The band’s performances celebrated the musical heritage of Valparaíso, preserving songs and styles that had been passed down through generations. Younger musicians who worked with the group viewed its members as living links to an important period in the city’s cultural history.

As the band gained recognition, JM began performing in different parts of Chile and travelling abroad. His late entry into a more professional musical career brought him opportunities he had never planned for during his decades at the market.

Returning to the Stage After Losing His Cousin

In 2025, Juanín died at the age of 87. His death devastated Gómez, who found it difficult to return to performing without the cousin who had shared his musical journey for so many years.

For several months, he struggled with grief. Audiences continued asking to hear songs associated with Juanín, but Gómez felt uncertain about performing them without his longtime partner.

Eventually, he returned to the stage. The music offered a way to honour their shared history while continuing the work they had built together.

At 80, He Is Still Singing

In May 2026, Los Crack del Puerto released their fourth record, *Lo Mucho que Nos Queda*, which translates roughly as “So Much Yet to Come.” The album was released on cassette, reflecting the group’s connection to traditional music and older musical formats.

Gómez continues to perform regularly, including Sunday appearances at a hillside restaurant in Valparaíso. He says singing has always been an emotional release, even though he never expected it to become such an important part of his life.

His story is not simply about becoming famous late in life. It is about holding on to something meaningful through hardship, work and loss, then finding the courage to give it a larger place in the world.

After decades of selling vegetables, JM has discovered a new audience for the songs he has loved since childhood. His journey carries a simple message: it is never too late to try something you care about, even if you never imagined it would take you far.

Source: The Guardian, October 7, 2026.