Cocoband

Pochy y su Cocoband, a merengue group from the Dominican Republic, burst onto the music scene in 1988. Led by Alfonso "Pochi" Vásquez, known as Pochy Familia, the band made its debut in 1989 with the album Cocoband. The group quickly became a national icon, releasing over twelve albums in less than a decade, including Cocoband (1989), La Faldita (1990), Llegaron los Cocotuces (1991), Pero con Coco! (1991), El Arrollador (1992), Canciones Cocomanticas (1993), La Coco Es la Coco (1994), El Hombre Llegó Parao (1995), Temible (1995), and El Ombliguito (1996). Their music consistently topped the local charts, and they enjoyed high demand for performances both domestically and internationally. Originally, the group included notable members such as Kinito Méndez, Bobby Rafael, Silvio, and Elvis Class, who eventually left to start their own musical projects. Pochy y su Cocoband were known not only for their merengue hits but also for experimenting with other genres like salsa and bachata, which were well received. Some of their most famous tracks include "La Faldita," "La Flaca," "El Hombre Llego Parao," "Salsa con Coco," and "El Cacu." After a significant hiatus in the 2000s, Pochy Familia revived the band in 2011 with new songs and performances. In 2012, they celebrated their 25th anniversary with the album 25 Años No Son Pajas de Coco and a tour in New York. They continued to celebrate milestones with special performances, including a 30th-anniversary concert in 2018 called "El Reencuentro," highlighting their greatest hits.