Nicaraguan singer and composer Kinito Mendez started playing in his first band, Pequeños del Ritmo, at the age of nine. He went on to form a string of successful groups throughout the ‘80s and early '90s, including Cocoband, Rikarena, and Rokabanda. Mendez finally tried his hand at a solo career in 1995 with El Hombre Merengue, and his combination of infectious, danceable merengue beats and humorous, witty lyrics made him an instant success. He continued recording for decades, notably paying tribute to his mentor Johnny Ventura with 1998's A Caballo.