The surprisingly fertile Puerto Rican ska community has been led by Skapulario since the band's debut in 1991. Though not the first to hit the scene (give the credit to Resistencia), the band soon became the most popular with a heady blend of classic covers and tight originals. Skapulario also released the first compact disc by a Puerto Rican ska band, 1994's Vida en Espiral, which contained the radio hits "Duerme a Tu Hermanito" and "La Fiesta Ska." Lead vocalist Ferdi left the band in 1996 to form a big-band/ska project, but keyboard player and head songwriter David provided a more than capable replacement. The band's 1998 self-titled album was their first released in continental America. ~ John Bush