Kerubanda
Kerubanda, headed by accordionist Kerube Ortiz, is a merengue típico band from the Dominican Republic. They are known for their authentic Perico Ripiao, their rendition of "Negro Cruz y Tono Colon", and rivalries with fellow musicians Geovanny Polanco and, especially, El Prodigio. Many within the group Kerubanda were originally members of the band headed by Krency Garcia (El Prodigio) but broke contract to play with Kerube Ortiz. This caused a lot of internal friction within the genre and bad blood between band leaders, but things worked themselves out eventually. Their band includes güira, tambora, accordion, bass, saxophone, conga, electric piano, and 3 vocalists (each for different rhythms of the music).
History
Kerube Ortiz, the band's leader and accordionist, was born in Santiago Rodriguez in the Dominican Republic. While growing up as a child, his father bought him his first accordion, which had 10 notes. With practice Kerube became a good player and performed at small parties and social gatherings. In the 1990s, Kerube formed Kerube Ortiz y su Cojunto Tipico in New York, whose population of Dominican merengue tipico musicians was starting to boom. Later, he formed La Kerubanda and made his debut on June 9, 2004, on a TV show called El Show de Nelson. He made his first appearance live in Santiago Rodriguez on June 18, 2004. Growing up, his idols were famed merengue tipico accordionists El Ciego de Nagua and Tatico Henriquez, who also influenced El Prodigio.
Sometime during November 1–3, 2008, Kerube Ortiz had a group meeting and decided to continue his music project on his own. All the musicians that were once with Kerubanda have now formed the REAL Banda. The group has picked a new accordionist, Berny Jhon.
Since, Kerube has fled to the United States to avoid debts that have been accumulating in the Dominican Republic. An order for imprisonment has been taken out against him, for the substantial amounts owed.