Gran Coquivacoa

Gran Coquivacoa is one of the great gaita/tamborera groups to emerge from Maracaibo in the Zulian State of Venezuela. Though their personnel has evolved over nearly 50 years, they have remained true to the roots of the pipe music tradition and have also broadened their sound to embrace salsa, merengue, and vallenato. The band was founded in 1968 by Jesús "Bocachico" Petit, Nelson Suárez, Rody Tigrera, Pedro Mavarez, Pedro Arteaga, and Manolo Salazar to play Christmas gaitas. In 1969, they recruited Nelson Martinez as lead singer; his reputation as "The Black Saint of the Gaita...