La Sonora Dinamita is a Mexican musical group that plays cumbia, a Tropical music genre thatâÂÂs popular throughout Latin America. As one of the first cumbia groups to reach international success, it is credited with helping to popularize the genre throughout Latin America and the world.
The original orchestra was formed in 1960 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia under the direction of bandleader Lucho ArgaÃÂn. Saldarriaga and Lalo Orozco began by gathering representative musicians from Colombia's Atlantic coast, striving to follow the recommendations made by Don Antonio Fuentes. The group made a few recordings on the Discos Fuentes record label. It disbanded in 1963.
The group was re-formed in 1975 under the direction of Julio Ernesto Estrada "Fruko" Rincón, the artistic director of Discos Fuentes. La Sonora Dinamita in 1977 released its first album in its new formation, La Explosiva, and reactivated their audience with hits such as "Del monton", "Maicito a otro pollo", "Guitarra amiga", "Ave de paso", "Negro maluco" and "Ja ja venao".
In 1981, the group had its first hit recordings, including "Mi Cucu" (1988), in its new incarnation. Their 1986 album, Sida, reached number five on the Regional Mexican Albums charts.
In 1989, the group had its first European tour and in 1991, it had its first appearance at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
In 2002, the band's founder and frontman Lucho ArgaÃÂn died, and the band continued with a new line-up. Today, their lead singer is Charlie Alvarez.
While the group's lineup has changed, it has always featured a strong female vocalist to accompany its ten-piece brass instrumentation, including Margarita Vargas (la Diosa de La Cumbia), Mélida Yará (La India Meliyará), Vilma DÃÂaz (La Diva de La Cumbia), Susana Velasquez, and other female vocalists and also several male vocalists.
<div style="float:left; width:50%;">
</div> <div style="float:right; width:48%;">
</div>