Cumbia

Cumbia on vinyl: dance music from Colombia’s Caribbean coast

In short: Cumbia is dance music from Colombia’s Caribbean coast, with African, indigenous and Spanish roots. In the fifties big bands played it in the cities, after which it conquered the whole of Latin America – from Mexico to Argentina. The Vinyl Room currently has 84 cumbia records, many of them from the seventies.

What is cumbia?

Originally cumbia was played with drums and flutes. Orchestras such as those of Lucho Bermúdez, Pacho Galán and Pedro Laza brought it into the dance halls, and the label Discos Fuentes made it known everywhere with records and compilations such as the “14 Cañonazos Bailables” series. Mexico, Peru and Argentina developed their own varieties, in Peru for example the psychedelic chicha. Today young bands such as the Meridian Brothers from Bogotá combine cumbia with electronics and experiment.

What to look for

Many cumbia records were pressed in Colombia and Mexico and are not widespread in Europe. DJs in particular look for well-preserved originals. Label, catalogue number and runout show which edition you have.

From our stock

First pressings

New in

→ Latin on vinyl · Bolero · How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained

FAQ

Where does cumbia come from? From Colombia’s Caribbean coast, with African, indigenous and Spanish roots.

What is Discos Fuentes? A Colombian label that made cumbia known with many records and compilations.

What is chicha? The Peruvian variety of cumbia, often with psychedelic guitars.