Grupo Niche, formed in 1978 in Bogota Colombia, has been probably my favorite Salsa group ever. The group’s director and songwriter, Jairo Varela started the band along with Alexis Lozano, who ironically enough, is the leader of the other group I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, as being Niche’s top competition at the time, Orquesta Guayacan (I really like this band too and will write about them soon).
Grupo Niche’s first album, “Al Pasito” was released in 1980 to lukewarm reviews and radio play. Especially since at the time, the hot band was the spectacular Fruko Y Sus Tesos (a descendant of the awesome Latin Brothers). In 1984 they released their fourth album, “No Hay Quinto Malo” which contained what is now their most well known, salsa-cult-following “Cali Pachanguero”. That’s when Niche really came on the salsa scene.
Since then, this quintessentially “estilo Colombiano” band has released some super smash hits, many of which have become staples in clubs all over Colombia, The United States and the world. As far as I am concerned, you can’t have a dance, or as the Colombians would say “una rumba” without Grupo Niche in your repertoire.
Today’s featured song is “Ana Mile”
GRUPO NICHE FAVORITES:
- Cali Pachanguero
- Ana Mile
- Un Caso Social
- Sin Sentimiento
- Una Aventura
- Buenaventura y Caney
- Bar Y Copas
- Mecanico
- Cali Aji
- Etnia
- Gotas De LLuvia
- Canoa Rancha (Cumbia)
- La Negra No Quiere
- A Preuba de Fuego
- Busca Por Dentro
