Viru Kumbieron

Viru Kumbieron formed in 1996 when four friends from Lima came together around cumbia music. Yony Cumbay, Guillermo "Papi" Campos, Walter "Chato" Arteaga, and José "Chino" Corcuera started playing a style that mixed Andean melodies with Latin rhythms, though some traditionalists criticized cumbia as uncultured at the time.

Their song "Me Vas a Extrañar" from 2009 became particularly well-known in Peru, capturing a sense of heartbreak that resonated with listeners. They also released albums like "Cumbia con Sentimiento" in 1999 and "El Lobo Estepario" in 2005.

While their lyrics sometimes touched on social issues and drew scrutiny from conservative circles, the band kept playing their version of Peruvian cumbia. They never became huge international stars, but their music found an audience at home.