Sonido Profesional

Sonido Profesional formed in 1990, led by accordionist Sergio Gómez from Michoacán, Mexico. Their debut album 'El Tren del Olvido' came out in 1999, giving the band its first major song of the same name. They worked in a style sometimes called cumbia sonidera, built around Gómez's accordion playing and straightforward, danceable arrangements.

Over the next few years they put out records like 'Lágrimas y Recuerdos' in 2001 and 'La Esperanza' in 2003. The lineup included vocalist José Luis Hernández, guitarist Freddy Ortiz, and bassist Jaime de la Rosa at various points, with Gómez remaining the constant figure. Their music found an audience through steady touring in Mexico and eventually in other parts of the Americas and Europe.

Some critics dismissed their approach as too simple or repetitive, but that didn't slow them down much. They kept playing the kind of cumbia that worked at parties and local celebrations, sticking to what they knew how to do well.