Fruko is a pioneer of Colombian salsa and a global exponent of cumbia, pachanga, and other tropical styles. An award-winning multi-instrumentalist and recording artist, he is a prolific composer, arranger, producer, and bandleader who has mentored and nurtured some of the finest singing voices to emerge from the region. He founded Fruko y Sus Tesos in 1969, wedding his country's native cumbia and champeta to tropical styles including guaguanco, cha-cha, mambo, and son. The group delivered a string of hits including "Bailar Oriza," "El Ausente," "El Tronco Seco," "In Memory of the Dead," "El Caminante," and "El Preso." He also founded the Latin Brothers, who made history in 1974 by issuing the first Colombian salsa chart hit, "A la Loma de la Cruz," for Discos Fuentes, and is credited with spearheading the re-formation of Colombia's cumbia supergroup La Sonora Dinamita.