Head Sounds: Fonograma Showcase

This new Head Sounds is dedicated to Fonograma, an unique Venezuelan music label from the early 60s formed by famous musician Billo Frómeta and Carlos Esparragoza Vega (co-founder of Discomoda) dedicated to a diverse spectrum of tropical sounds from the Caribbean and South America, specially from Venezuela and Colombia. They released Charanga, Mambo, Vallenato, Merengue and even Twist/Rock, but their main thing was Cumbia, along with other Colombian styles and fusions.

Probably created to compete with the massive influence and commercial success of Discos Fuentes in Venezuela, Fonograma attracted some of the biggest industry names from the neighbouring country, like Climaco Sarmiento, Lucho Bermudez, Combo Maravilla, Sonora Del Caribe, Dolcey Gutierrez, Michy Sarmiento, Andrés Landero and Anibal Velásquez -to mention only a few- to record exclusive LPs and singles for the Venezuelan discography market. Apart of tracks from the mentioned artists, we’ll hear some other obscure acts like Los Guajiros, Rafael Solano, Carlos Quintanilla, Papá Candito and Panamanian keyboard wizard, Emilio Muñoz.