Lucho Bermúdez

Lucho Bermudez is a Colombian musician, composer, arranger, director and performer known for his compositions 'Carmen de Bolívar' and 'Salsipuedes'.

Adapting the traditional rhythms of his home country with more modern styles, Bermudez is renowned for being the first to transcribe the rhythms of porro, bagpipe, maplé and cumbia for orchestra. Widely regarded as one of the most important performers of Colombian music of the 20th century, his influence on Latin music remains evident since his death in 1994.

His talents were evident from an early age as he mastered the flute, clarinet, trombone and trumpet by the age of seven. After turning 15, he became the arranger and director of Banda Papayera and formed his first orchestra, Orchestra of the Caribbean, by the time he turned 22. After travelling to Buenos Aires to compose and record for RCA Victor, he formed the Orquesta de Lucho Bermudez in 1946 and this remains his most popular and successful endeavour, who still perform all over the world at Latin-themed concerts to this day.