Lounging Around: Charanga Cakewalk and "La Cumbia Lounge"

Charanga Cakewalk, performer of today's random tune, is the brainchild of Michael Ramos, a Latino Chicano Mexican who also describes himself as a citizen of the world. A once sideman and rocker who played with John Mellencamp, Paul Simon, Patty Griffin and others and was a sometime member of the BoDeans and The Rembrandts, he maintained a keen interest in the Latino music of his childhood. Ramos has made Charanga Cakewalk the leading proponent of a style called "cumbia lounge." Within his musical landscapes, you might hear tejano, flamenco, merengue, salsa, garage rock, ska and reggaeton. Charanga Cakewalk has released three albums. La Cumbia Lounge is from his 2004 album Loteria De La Cumbia Lounge.