Francisco Ulloa

Francisco Ulloa is a master of merengue tipico, an ultra-fast, traditional hybrid usually played only by master players. Accompanying his deeply romantic vocals on accordion, and joined by tambora drum, bass, guaya/guira, saxophone, and flute, Ulloa leads his band, Y Su Conjunto Topico Dominica Merengue, through a large repertoire of love songs including "Millonario De Oro (Millionaire of Love)," "India de los Ojos Verde (India of the Green Eyes)," and "Cuando Te Enamoro A Ti (When I Fall in Love With You)." The son of an amateur accordion player, Ulloa was born in a remote hamlet near Quita Suenos Altamira, in the Puerto Plata region of the Dominican Republic. Much of his early life, however, was spent with his grandparents. Although he worked as a palm tree climber and field plougher, Ulloa continued to be drawn to music. By the age of 18, he had acquired his first squeezebox and had begun performing at local fiestas. He recorded many singles in the '70s, including the local hit "La Tijera." ~ Craig Harris