Sonora Dinamita

La Sonora Dinamita is a Colombian cumbia group. As one of the first cumbia groups to reach international success, it is credited with helping to popularize the genre throughout Latin America.

The original orchestra was formed in 1960 in Cartagena de Indias under the direction of bandleader Lucho Argaín. It disbanded in 1963, but was re-formed in 1975 under the direction of Julio Ernesto Estrada "Fruko" Rincón, the artistic director of the Discos Fuentes record label [cite web
last =
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title =La Sonora Dinamita
work =Hispanic Heritage
publisher =Thomson Gale
date =2000
url =http://www.gale.com/free_resources/chh/bio/dinamita.htm
format =HTML
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accessdate =2007-05-07] . In 1981, Mélida Yará, better-known as "La India Meliyará" became the lead vocalist. [cite web
last =Bonacich
first =Drago
authorlink =
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title =La Sonora Dinamita Biography
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publisher =allmusic
date =2007
url =http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:8r67mps39f8o~T1
format =HTML
doi =
accessdate =2007-05-07] It was while Yará was the lead singer that the group released its most successful recordings, such as the classic "Mi Cucu." While the group's lineup has changed, it has always featured a strong female vocalist to accompany its ten-piece brass instrumentation. [cite web
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title =About La Sonora Dinamita
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url =http://www.sonorashow.com
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doi =HTML
accessdate =2007-05-07]

The group continues to perform in the United States as La Internacional Sonora Show, led by bandleader Kiko Vargas Jr., son of the founder of the original touring version La Internacional Sonora Dinamita Show.

References