If you’re talking about cumbia royalty, there is no higher court than that of Andrés Landero — long considered the king of cumbia across the world for his contributions to the tropical genre. Yeison, his grandson, caught Andrés’ attention at the age of 7, when he displayed not just a raw talent for interpreting melodies, but also a pure love for the music — un corazón cumbiambero.
From the heart of the Montes de María region on Colombia's Caribbean coast, the birthplace of Cumbia, Yeison Landero has emerged as one of the genre's leading figures worldwide.
At the age of seven, he received his first accordion from his grandfather Andrés, becoming the only member of the family chosen to learn directly from him. Under his guidance, he inherited not only that musical treasure but also the soul of a minstrel and the virtuosity of the instrument. From then on, his path was marked by a clear mission: to preserve, innovate, and bring Cumbia to new audiences.
Yeison grew up surrounded by music. In his early years, his home was visited by musicians of the highest stature: Alfredo Gutiérrez, Lizandro Meza, Calixto Ochoa, Enríquez Díaz, Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto… innumerable distinguished folk figures performed around his kitchen table. The first band he performed in was with Andrés Landero himself — he and his sister were introduced as “los nietos de Andrés Landero”, performing cumbia at festivals, concerts, and fairs across Colombia. In 2025, he was nominated for a Latin Grammy with Los Kumbia Stars for the song "Baila Kolombia" in the Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album category, and in October of that year, he participated in the WOMEX showcase, the world's most important global music expo.
Yeison has dedicated his life to the genre and the instrument of his family legacy, in the spirit of Andrés, and he is rightly called the heir to cumbia. He lights up every stage he plays on.
The Rotunda
4014 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA
Tickets: $10., $15., or $20. plus fee of $1.28 to $2.07
