Juaneco Y Su Combo

Juaneco y su Combo, a Peruvian cumbia group from Pucallpa, was founded in 1960 by Juan Wong Paredes. The group initially featured his son, Juan Wong Popolizio, who joined after returning from military service around 1970. Their first album, Juaneco y Su Combo, was released in 1968. In 1972, they released El Gran Cacique, which included notable tracks like "Mujer hilandera" and "Vacilando con ayahuasca". The group achieved significant success in Peru and internationally, touring countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Brazil. In 1977, a tragic plane crash resulted in the deaths of several band members. Juan Wong Popolizio passed away in 1994, after which his children took over the direction of the group. The group's influence persisted through posthumous releases and collaborations, such as Bareto’s reimagining of "Ya se ha muerto mi abuelo" in 2008. As of 2023, the group is still active, with Juan Pezo's sons being the orchestra's successors.