Quilapayún (Spanish pronunciation: [kilapaˈʝun]) are an instrumental and vocal folk music band from Chile, one of the longest lasting and most influential exponents of the Nueva Canción Chilena (New Song) movement. Quilapayún originated in 1965 when Julio Numhauser, and the brothers Julio Carrasco and Eduardo Carrasco formed a folk music trio which they simply called the three bearded men (viz. Quila-Payún in the mapuche language). The group became inseparable with the revolution that occurred in the popular music of the country under the Popular Unity Government of Salvador Allende.
In 1966 Patricio Castillo joined the group and they began performing and winning notoriety for their Andean music. That same year the group met Víctor Jara and at their request he became Quilapayún’s musical director. The group also backed Jara on his solo albums. After three years they assumed different paths and Eduardo Carrasco became the group’s musical leadership.
Since its formation and during its forty year long history - both in Chile and during its lengthy period of exile in France - the group has seen modifications to its personnel lineup, to the subject and content of its work, and controversy regarding irreconcilable differences with the current and former group director; which has led each to maintain a distinctive - yet equally impressive - Quilapayún ensemble: one in Chile (named Quilapayún-Histórico) and one in France (named Quilapayún-France).