Los Alfa 8 is an international tropical music orchestra led by Colombian singer, percussionist, composer, arranger, and producer Ricardo Bustos. Emerging in the late 1980s, the group established a repertoire focused primarily on salsa, merengue, and broader Caribbean rhythms.
An early milestone for the group came when they traveled to New York to record the merengue track "Caramelo" alongside the prominent Dominican act Los Hermanos Rosario, released by BMG. Around the same time, the group achieved widespread recognition with their track "Fútbol Gol," which became a prominent salsa anthem for the 1994 World Cup. Over their career, the orchestra expanded their musical scope, incorporating styles like Cumbia, Meren Pop Dance, and Latin pop alongside their core genres.
The group has continued to record and perform into the 2020s. In 2021, they released the live album "Music Time Sessions (En Vivo)," which featured singles such as "La Salsa Llegó," "Envenéname," and "Frío en Mi." Their subsequent releases include "Chamsa (Champeta & Salsa)" in 2022, "Bajo El Cielo De Paris" in 2025, and "Fútbol Gol La Pasión" in 2026.
