In 1982, they had their first national hit: "Buenaventura y Caney", which allowed them to make their first tour in the United States, which has not stopped to date. In 1984 Jairo Varela composed and produced the "Cali Pachanguero" song that would give national and global prominence to Grupo Niche and was declared as the official theme of the "Feria de Cali". International tours would increase from that moment on.

In 1987, musicians of the group entered into differences with Varela, who decided not to count on them any longer. With some members who were loyal to him, plus other new ones, whom he called, a new stage of Grupo Niche began in 1988, which resulted in great achievements such as "Nuestro Sueño" and "Cómo podré disimular", with which they conquered Peru and Venezuela. In the Inca country, for example, they managed to gather more than one million people at the Campo de Marte.

In 1990, Jairo Varela produced "Cielo de Tambores", the group's most successful production to date. Songs such as "Una Aventura", "Busca por dentro", "Se pareció tanto a ti", "Sin Sentimiento", "Cali Ají" and "Debiera Olvidarla" crossed borders and were undisputed hits throughout Latin America.

Since 1992 a long period of international consolidation of Grupo Niche followed, which kept him on permanent tour for almost 5 years in the United States, Peru, Mexico, Colombia and Europe. In 1999 Jairo Varela became independent from record labels and released a new musical work: "A Golpe de Folklore". Later he released a compilation re-recording all his hits.

In 2001, after a thoughtful decision, Jairo Varela decided to move the headquarters of Grupo Niche to Miami, in order to be able to attend the numerous international tours that the orchestra performed annually. Since 1996 he had already created his company in the United States, Niche Business Enterprises Inc.

Since 2005 Jairo Varela dedicated himself to produce new songs for Grupo Niche, taking into account the new times by releasing a song every six months. International tours are maintained and new territories such as Japan are visited by the group.

In 2007 Jairo Varela suffered a heart attack that forced him to give up his inescapable cigarette. New songs like "Un Día Después" and "Robando Sueños" show a new sound of the group, something more sophisticated and romantic.

From 2010 onwards Jairo Varela, in his perfectionism and meticulousness, dedicated more time to the recording studio trying out different voices with new nuances and styles. A new song, "Aprieta", sounds like an epilogue of the famous "Buenaventura y Caney".

In June 2012 Maestro Jairo Varela fulfilled one of his most cherished dreams when Grupo Niche was hired for the first time in Africa, which was considered a journey to the orchestra's ancestors.

On August 8, 2012, Jairo Varela suffered a new heart attack that this time caused his death. Immediately a feeling of popular grief was generated in Colombia and several nations. His funeral was prolonged for four days before the clamor of the people. Numerous tributes from governments and individuals immediately followed and Jairo Varela became a legend.

The passing of Jairo Varela marked the beginning of a new era for Grupo Niche. Hundreds of unreleased songs were recorded in demos and written down in notebooks to be produced for several years. His eldest daughter, Yanila Varela, who was her father's right hand, has been in charge of succeeding him as general manager.

The same year and during 2014 and 2015 their tours around the world increased and they traveled more frequently in Europe, United States, Ecuador, Peru, Canada, Mexico, Colombia and conquered new territories such as Australia. At the end of 2014 they made a historic presentation together with the Gran Combo de Puerto Rico at Madison Square Garden, a stage that almost 30 years (1986) before Grupo Niche, began to be liked all over the planet.

In 2020-2021 they achieved, the prized Latin Grammy and Anglo Grammy for their album 40, and in 2023, they won once again the Latin Grammy for their album “Niche Sinfónico” under the production of Jose Aguirre who was the person in whom the Varela family, led by Yanila Varela, gave all their confidence, returning to the top of the charts in most of the world. “Niche Sinfónico” was also nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album in the 2024 Grammy Awards.

The history of Grupo Niche continues to be written every day since Jairo Varela left a great musical testament that his heirs will fulfill to the letter and that will surely be the delight of the millions of admirers of the group in the world.