Famous Colombian singers and groups

Shakira 

Shakira, born in 1977 in Barranquilla, is a Colombian singer-songwriter. Married to the footballer Gerard Piké, she began to enjoy international success in 2002 with her song  Whenever, Wherever, which has sold 5 million copies. In 2010 Shakira performs Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), which is the official song of the 2010 World Cup. With 80 million albums sold worldwide, Shakira is the most popular Colombian artist!

Carlos Vives

Carlos Vives, born in 1961 in Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, is a popular singer and composer in Colombia. In 2010, Carlos Vives participated in the Playing for Change project and recorded  La Tierra del Olvido.. La Tierra del Olvido is a beautiful song about Colombia, the Land of Independence. He is also known for singing with Shakira, La Bicicleta  in 2016.

Juanes 

Juanes, born in 1972 in Medellin, is a Colombian author, composer and performer. Does La Camisa Negra speak to you? Juanes is a popular singer in Colombia, especially in his region Antioquia and in the rest of Latin America. He mixes different typical Colombian rhythms like vallenato and cumbia with pop and rock. In 2017, Juanes sings with Morat Besos En Guerra. Juanes is also known for A dios le pido, La camisa negra.

J Balvín

José Álvaro Osorio Balvin, born in 1985 in Medellín, better known as J Balvin, is a Colombian singer and record producer, Hip hop urban music pop latin trap latino reguetón who has managed to position himself in both the Hispanic and English-speaking music market, placing his songs at the top of several music charts. J Balvin has collaborated with Don Omar, Fon R Daddy Yankee, Juan Gabriel, French Montana, Arcángel, Farruko, Maroon 5, Chino & Nacho, Nicky Jam, Ariana Grande, Maikel Delacalle, Cosculluela, Becky G, Prince Royce, Justin Bieber, Sofia Carson, among others. Among others, listen to Reggeaton, X, Loco contigo, Ritmo, Agua …

Maluma

Juan Luis Londoño Arias, born in 1985 in Medellín, known artistically as Maluma, is a Colombian pop, reggaeton and Latin trap singer. He became famous in his native country in 2011, thanks to the singles “Farandulera”, “Obsesión” and “La temperatura”, and with “Carnaval” in the rest of Latin America. Today he is known worldwide and sings duets with artists like Madonna, Maitres Gims, Aya Nakamura, Thalía, Ricky Martin, Piso 21, Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, Shakira, Prince Royce among others. You can listen to Corazón, Hola, Djadja, Hawai, Que chimba, No se me quita …

Karol G

Carolina Giraldo Navarro, better known as Karol G was born in 1991 in Medellín, she launched on the international scene with the song “301” with the singer Reykon in 2012. In early 2017, she released the single “Ahora me llama” with Bad Bunny, which quickly became a hit. A few months later, she remixed it with Quavo, and it gave the singer her first entry in the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. That same year, she released her first album and reached number two on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart.

Aterciopelados

The 90’s in Colombia had different musical protagonists that approached the rock. But if there is a group that left a mark not only musical but also cultural and continental, it is Aterciopelados. And it did it by breaking the pattern, indeed, a rock band was already a rarity, but a rock band with a female member was even rarer. Bolero Falaz. The singer Andrea Echeverri sang with Goyo, the singer of the band Choquibtown and Catalina García Barahona in Florecita Rockera

Totó la Momposina

Sonia Bazanta Vides, known as Totó la Momposina, born in 1940, is a Colombian singer, dancer and composer. She is inspired by the traditional dances of the Colombian Caribbean region. In 2011 and 2013 she won several Latin Grammy Awards. We can advise you  Yo me llamo cumbia  or El Tigre.

Systema Solar

Systema Solar is a Colombian group created in Santa Marta, Colombia. It is inspired by Cumbia, Fandango, Champeta, Afro and Caribbean music. This group also uses other cultural styles like Hip Hop, House, Techno and Break beats. Systema Solar is not only about its music but also about its dance and its happiness. He does a lot of musical and visual shows. We recommend you to listen to  Yo Voy Ganao, El Botón del Pantalón, Mi Caraïbe or Rumbera.

Monsieur Periné

With this name, you thought they were French? Well no! Monsieur Periné is a Colombian group created in 2007. This group is inspired by gypsy jazz, pop, bolero and swing. It’s a really original band that draws its inspiration from Colombia and also from Latin America. We recommend you to listen to  Sabor a mi, La Muerte  and the album Caja de Musica  and especially the song  Tu m’as promis.

Joe Arroyo

Joe Arroyo, born in Cartagena de Indias in 1955 and died in 2011, is a Colombian singer and musician of cumbia and salsa. He talks about Colombian history, slavery, love, and Barranquilla in his songs! We advise you to listen to  La Rebelión, En Baranquilla Me Quedo et Bam Bam Bam.

ChocQuibTown

Do you like hip-hop? ChocQuibTown is a Colombian hip hop group created in 2000 in the department of Choco (Colombian Pacific Coast). The group highlights their Afro-Colombian identity and the land of their people in their songs. ChocQuibTown talks about both the life of its inhabitants and the fact that they are proud to belong to the black community of the Colombian Pacific and Caribbean coasts. You should listen to  Nuqui, Invencible, Cuando te veo, De donde vengo yo, Hasta el techo, Somos los prietos, Somos Humanos  among others …

Bomba Estéreo

Bomba Estéreo, formed in 2005 in Barranquilla, is a group of 4 young people who mix different musical styles: electro, rap, cumbia, reggae and other latino genres. This diversity gives a really particular style and Bomba Estéreo is very popular in Colombia! We let you listen to Soy yo, Somos dos, El Alma y El Cuerpo and Internacionales.

Andres Landero

Andrés Gregorio Landero Guerra, born in 1932 in Cartagena de Indias and died in 2000, is a Colombian musician and composer. He is considered as “El rey de la cumbia“, the king of the cumbia in Colombia! Discover his greatest hits: La Pava Congona, Cantinflas Bailando Cumbia, Virgen de la Candelaria, María del Carmen or Tambo Tambo.

Grupo Niche

Grupo Niche, is a very popular salsa group from Cali, the capital of salsa, with the following titles:  Las caleñas son como las flores, Cali pachangero, Una aventura…

Fruko y sus tesos

Fruko y sus tesos, another well-known salsa group from Medellin. Joe Arroyo is a former member of this group. Main titles: El preso, El ausente, El caminante…

Alejandro Duran

Alejandro Duran, accordionist and singer of vallenato, nicknamed the “negro Alejo”. Key titles:  La mujer y la primavera, El verano…

We hope to have convinced you and don’t hesitate to leave us a comment if you think we have forgotten important Colombian artists! It goes without saying that this list is not exhaustive!