Kinito Méndez

Born José del Carmen Ramírez, Dominican merengue star Kinito Méndez first entered popular music at age nine as a member of Pequeños del Ritmo. He launched the tropical act Cocoband in 1988 with Alfonso "Pochi" Vásquez, then assembled his second project, Rikarena. In the early 1990s the singer, songwriter, producer, and arranger joined Rockabanda and, in 1995, began his solo career with El Hombre Merengue; the single "Cachamba" soon topped major Latin charts. Kinito Méndez released El Decreto in 1997 and worked on Barrio Boyzz' Ven A Mi that year. Paying tribute to his mentor Johnny Ventura, the artist also known as El Hombre del Merengue issued A Caballo in 1998, followed by Su Amigo in 1999. The 2000 album D'Colores contained "Nueva York Pasando Lista," a track reflecting the social realities of Latin Americans living in New York.