Emerging in 1986 from Mexico's Monterrey, Nuevo Leon region, Tropa Vallenata were long at the forefront of the cumbia style. Their 1996 LP Los Caminos de la Vida was their commercial breakthrough in the U.S., topping the Latin charts; in 1998 they resurfaced with Mi Cafetal, followed a year later by Cada Latido Cada Ti Quiero. The eclectic Fantasia 666 was issued in early 2001. ~ Jason Ankeny