La Cumana forms part of Uruguay’s plena danza movement alongside acts like Karibe con K and L’Auntentika, and features core members Diego Román (vocals), Diego Viera (percussion), and Javier Leite (keyboards), who came together in the 1990s to modernize traditional Puerto Rican-influenced plena with syncopated timbales, charleston beats, and playful lyrics. They released their debut album Los Leones de la Cumana in 1999, followed by Bailando Plena Con la Cumana (2000) and Hasta la Muerte (2002), songs like “Lola la Coquetera,” “El Zumbador,” “El Funeral,” and “El Ángel” becoming staples on Uruguayan dance floors and regional festivals. In 2004, they issued a retrospective compilation The Best, cementing their status in the national plena canon. Although full-length albums slowed in the 2010s, the trio remained active with live performances and in 2024–2025 released fresh material, including Sessions 16 (2025 EP) and the single “Hoja en Blanco” (2025), showing their commitment to revitalizing plena for a new generation.
