Gabino Pampini

b. Gabino Espinosa, Panama. This renowned soneros (improvising salsa singer) artist originally worked with El Combo Impacto and Roberto Y Su Zafra. The tracks he recorded with these two bands were later compiled on Otra Vez... Gabino Pampini. Gabino relocated to Miami, USA, where he linked up with Colombian Hernán Gutiérrez (band leader, arranger, composer, piano, flute), who worked with Fruko in the 70s. Pampini shared lead vocals with Cuban Javier Oliva on Gutiérrez’s Y Ahora... La Tremenda Salsa De Hernán Gutiérrez Y Su Orquesta in 1980, which was later issued in Colombia under Pampini’s name with the title La Hermandad Latina. Three years later, Gabino, Colombian Oscar Alberto Abueta and the Cuban vocalist Israel ‘Kantor’ Sardiñas (ex-Los Van Van), were lead singers on Gutiérrez’s modern classic Con Sacrificio, which must rank as one of the top 10 best salsa albums of the 80s. Lamentably, Gutiérrez died shortly afterwards.


Pampini continued in a similar stylistic vein as a solo artist. He teamed up with Ricardo Lance (b. Barranquilla, Colombia; bass/arranger/composer) to co-lead the band Fuerza Noble, and released three self-titled albums with them between 1987 and 1988, all recorded in Miami. Fuerza Noble’s line-up sported a frontline of two trumpets and two or three trombones plus rhythm section (bass, conga, bongo, timbales and piano) and voices. Lead singer Yolanda Rivera (ex-Sonora Ponceña), sang in the chorus on all three albums. Pampini later parted company with Lance. In 1989 he guested on Frivolo, recorded in Colombia by Grupo Galé led by young Colombian Diego Galé (percussion, singer, producer). Gabino provided lead vocals to the album’s smash hit track ‘Mi Vecina’. Pampini signed with the major Latin record company, TH-Rodven, and debuted on the label in 1990 with the Miami-recorded Las Aventuras Musicales De... Gabino Pampini, which included four tracks arranged by Alberto Barros. Meanwhile, Lance made his solo debut as band leader with Ricardo Lance Y Su Grupo Sublime in 1989. His Grupo Sublime, a three-trombone band, featured four ex-Fuerza Noble members. The following year, Lance was the musical director and wrote two arrangements on Mas Alla Del Sabor! by female singer/composer Arabella (b. María Margarita Pinillos, 15 June 1950, Bogotá, Colombia).