Grupo Malagata is an Argentine cumbia norteña band formed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1990. The group was established following the departure of singer Antonio Ríos, guitarist Reynaldo Valverde, and Jorge Cruz from Grupo Sombras, and was initially known as Los De La Malagata. They made their recording debut in 1990 with the self-titled studio album Malagata, which sold 470,000 copies, earned six platinum certifications, and produced the hit singles “Noche de Luna” and “Chiquilína Bonita”. They followed with their second album, Con Toda La Onda, in 1991, featuring “El Borracho”. The band received the Premio A.C.E. for Best Tropical Group and Best Album for their third release, En el Cielo Las Estrellas; sources differ on whether the award was presented in 1992 or 1993. Their final album with the original lineup, Mas Arriba Que Nunca, was released in late 1994, yielding the hit “Sombrero Blanco”. Following the departure of Ríos to pursue a solo career, Juancy Giménez joined as lead vocalist for the gold-certified album A Fondo (1995). In 1996, with new vocalist Daniel Torres, they released A Todo Vuelo, featuring the gold and platinum hit “Golondrina”. They followed with the critically acclaimed album El Mito in 1997, featuring the tracks “Amándote” and “Muchachita”. In 1998, they incorporated accordions and trombones on Quemas. After a tragic microbus accident claimed the life of drummer Daniel Castro, the band recruited metal singer Daniel Medina for Una Década De Éxitos (1999), featuring “Negra”. Under vocalist Sebastián Mendoza, they released Magia Suburbana in 2000. Valverde and Torres reunited in 2004 for the album La Leyenda Continua, which was nominated for a Premio Carlos Gardel in 2005. Under singer Cristopher Valverde, they released Abriendo Caminos in 2010 and celebrated their twentieth anniversary in 2011 with the live album and DVD 20 Años En Vivo, earning another Gardel nomination.
