Los Hermanos Rosario

• Genre: Merengue

About

The brothers Rosario have a storied career as one of the longest-running merengue bands in the business. The group originated in 1978 in the Dominican Republic under the direction of pianist and musical director Pepe Rosario. When Pepe passed away soon after the group formed, the 14-piece orchestra was thrown into disarray for several years. They ultimately reunited and recorded again, and the 1980s saw a run of hits that began to garner the group an international reputation. The band issued greatest hits collections in the early '90s, and that might have been the end of the story. It wasn't. Los Hermonos Rosario have continued to chart into the 21st century thanks to an updated image and the high-quality musicianship that comes with over two decades of musical experience. Marked by strong ensemble singing and seamless orchestration, this is one war-horse that still isn't showing its age.

- Sarah Bardeen