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Kinito MendezMerengue style
Country:
 Dominican r. |
Content:
- Kinito Mendez: The "Man of Merengue"
- Musical Beginnings
- "Cocoband" and the Rise of Merengue
- Breaking Away and Solo Career
- Musical Collaborations and Accolades
- Discography
Kinito Mendez: The "Man of Merengue"
Kinito Mendez, born as Jose del Carmen Ramirez, was born into a musical family in Padre de Casas, Dominican Republic. His father, don Kino, earned him the nickname "Kinito", meaning "little Kino". Kinito's grandfather led a "perico ripiao" ensemble, and his mother played the tambora.
Musical Beginnings
Kinito began his musical journey as a child when his friends and relatives formed "Los pequenos del ritmo", a musical group in which he became the vocalist. He also started writing his own music and lyrics.
"Cocoband" and the Rise of Merengue
Kinito's path to prominence began when he joined the "Pochi Familia" musical group "Cocoband", bringing his unique style of merengue to their repertoire. His songs became hits and contributed significantly to the group's success.
Breaking Away and Solo Career
Despite his success with "Cocoband", Kinito's ambitions led him to leave the group in 1992, taking Bobby Rafael with him. He formed "Rokabanda", where he took the lead vocalist role and composed his own songs. Three years later, he embarked on a solo career.
Musical Collaborations and Accolades
In 1998, Kinito released the album "A Caballo" dedicated to his mentor, Johnny Ventura, the "father of merengue". In 2000, he collaborated with salsa legend Celia Cruz on the track "Me estan hablando del cielo".
Discography
Cachamba' 96 (1996) (single)El Hombre Merengue (1997)
El decreto de Kinito (1997)
Los exitos de Kinito (1997)
A caballo (1998)
Su amigo (1999)
20 Aniversario (1999)
D' colores (2000)
