Viva Vallenato! Cumbia Band has been electrifying crowds with the classic folkloric music of Colombia, South America since 2013.  The 5-piece group features three gifted musicians from Barranquilla, Colombia: 73-year old lifelong lead singer & percussionist Hugo Lascarro Sr.; his son Hugo Jr. on traditional Colombian caja vallenata and tambora costeña hand drums; and bassist Jose Lozano. Salvatore Carollo plays red hot timbales. Accordionist Phil “Felipe” Passantino formed the band in 2013 after falling in love with this rich music: cumbia, a hypnotic courtship dance created by escaped African slaves; and vallenato, the local storytelling songs of Colombia’s Atlantic coast, sung over shimmering accordions and pulsating rhythms.

Viva Vallenato! have appeared on Univision, Telemundo, WPIX, and in many venues and festivals along the East Coast. Website: VivaVallenato.com