He started out singing Joropo in a group with his brothers, but didn't gain more widespread notoriety until joining forces with fellow musician Nelson Henríquez.
[2] After two years performing in Nelson Henriquez's group (1972–1973) he decided to branch off and form his own: "Pastor López y su Combo."
Many of the cumbias he has recorded are interpretations of works associated with "Peruvian cumbia", including "Cariñito sin mi", "Bonita y Mentirosa", and "Traicionera" among others.
[3] The success of his more than 30 year musical career has not been limited to his two nations of residence, Venezuela and Colombia, but spans the United States, Canada, Spain, the UK, and other countries with significant Latino populations.
[5] He died on 5 April 2019, at the age of 74 years, at the North Clinic in the city of Cucuta, Colombia, after having suffered a stroke.