Formed at the end of 2000 and based in Switzerland, Mercadonegro is a prominent salsa orchestra created in Europe. The band is composed of musicians from various Latin American and European countries, including Cuba, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Italy, and Brazil. Key figures in the group include singer-leader and composer Armando Miranda (also known as "El Moro"), who studied at the Felix Varela Conservatory in Havana, and Colombian musician Rodrigo RodrÃguez. Prior to forming the orchestra, its members built their experience performing alongside legendary Latin music artists such as Celia Cruz, Alfredo de la Fe, Cheo Feliciano, and Tito Nieves.
Mercadonegro's high-tempo style incorporates elements of salsa dura, timba, cha-cha-cha, and son cubano, making their recordings a popular choice for dance performances and competitions worldwide. The song "La Malanga," from their 2005 album Salsa Pa'l Mundo Entero, was the most played track at the 2012 World Latin Dance Cup, which subsequently led to the song being banned from the 2013 competition. Another popular song by the group, "La Bendición," faced a similar ban due to its ubiquity in competitions.
The group has continued to release recorded material regularly. Their catalog includes albums such as La Salsa Es Mi Vida (2017) and Somos del Barrio (2019), as well as modern tracks including the singles BONCO (2023) and Enamorado (2024). In 2025, they released the album SE ACABO EL CUENTO and a remastered edition of Bailalo!.
