If you’re talking about cumbia royalty, there is no higher court than that of Andrés Landero — long considered the king of cumbia across the world for his contributions to the tropical genre. Yeison, his grandson, caught his Andrés’ attention at the age of 7, when he displayed not just a raw talent for interpreting melodies, but also a pure love for the music — un corazón cumbiambero. 

Yeison grew up surrounded by music. In his early years, his home was visited by musicians of the highest stature: Alfredo Gutiérrez, Lizandro Meza, Calixto Ochoa, Enríquez Díaz, Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto… innumerable distinguished folk figures performed around his kitchen table. The first band he performed in was with Andrés Landero himself — he and his sister were introduced as “los nietos de Andrés Landero”, performing cumbia at festivals, concerts, and fairs across Colombia.

Yeison has dedicated his life to the genre and the instrument of his family legacy, in the spirit of Andrés, and he is rightly called the heir to cumbia. He lights up every stage he plays on. We’re chuffed to kick off the year with his ensemble in Amherst.