The Timba Specialists

About Us

Our Services

We are entertainment agency dedicated to the promotion of Cuban dance music genres and style, dance forms and artists that sing and play Cuban music.

Promotion of concerts, Casino and Rueda congresses, dance events, music festivals and tours in the USA and in particular the US Midwest is very important to us.

Caramelo Entertainment book, manage and promote international artists and orchestras and organize tours in North America and the Caribbean. We love Timba.

Our company organizes dance and music picnics in Chicagoland and bus tours from Chicago to nature parks and music and dance events in the Midwest.

We manage artists and tour artists in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

Our agency collects the end of the year lists of dance hits from eligible and participants TOP DEEJAYS from around the word and publishes the TOP TEN from each deejay each year in December.

The TOP 100 Hits of Cuban Dance Music is determined from these lists and published and distributed.

Caramelo Entertainment is a Member of APAP, Midwest Arts, DJ Times, IACAS and attend the Music Week of The Latin Billboard Conference and Awards and Latin Gramy Awards

Bookings

When an active or planned tour of an artists or group, please contact Caramelo Entertainment on this site for instructions of how to book the artists.

Contact us If you are in need of an excellent deejay or MC for you event or party. We work with the best TOP DEEJAYS all over the world.

Our Policies

We are a professional company, you will need a signed legal contract to work with us.

If you as an artist, group or orchestras are interested in being represented by Caramelo Entertainment, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are a promoter or producer in need of booking for an event or concert, we initially collect half of the deposit and the rest the day of the event before the artist appears on stage.

If you are an active deejay that play Cuban dance music and would like to be qualified to participate in our TOP DEEJAY Project at the end of the year, drop us a line.

Are you an artist, promoter or work in the entertainment industry and want to attend the Latin Billboard Conference and Award?

You can promote your business, and network at the Billboard Conference or Latin Week every year.

As an artist you can attend, make others aware of your talents and meet key players in the entertainment industry present at the event.

Learns the ins and outs of the entertainment industry.

Attend and participate as part of the Caramelo Entertainment delegation.

It is usually in Las Vegas, Nevada or Miami, Florida. Drop us a line.

Other Services

Check our recording services. For your unique song or album, we work with a professional recording studio in Chicago.

Learn music and to play an instrument. Teacher for music instruction in Chicago.

Need an arranger for your composition, song, album, a musical, a theater play? Drop us a line.

Need an art designer for your festival, logo and look? Let us know.

Recording Services - Find out more

BIOGRAPHY

Barbaro Fines Fortes was born in Cuba on October 8, 1982. He is the nephew of Manolito Simonet and Orlando Canto, flautist of Los Van Van. He started leaning music at the age of 5 and studied piano at the National Conservatory of Music Alejandro Garcia Caturla where at age 7 he played at recitals.

At the age of 15 he played with "La Suprema Ley", the first group created by Maykel Blanco (the latter was then 18 years old). He worked with several well-known musical groups in Cuba, such as La Charanga Forever, Issac Delgado, Paulito FG, Sello LA, and La Rebambaramba. As the musical director of Bakuleye, he discovered that he liked to write music and received a Premio Lucas Award.

In 2002, Barbaro Fines arrived in Peru to be in the group Robert Armas y Los Conquistadores de la Salsa. He will make several other round trips Cuba-Peru to work with the group La Caro Band and Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, and he will eventually settle permanently in Peru in 2010.

Barbaro Fines will then create his own timba group, Barbaro Fines y su Mayimbe, named after a sacred bird for the Palo Mayombe Religion. This bird flies high in the sky and is considered a messenger of God (hence the name of the second album: Mensajeros de Dios)

Lima, with its seething timba scene, devoted timba fan base and mix of Cuban musicians and timba-playing Peruvian musicians was ripe for the picking. Barbarito built up a repertoire of original material composed and arranged by himself and brought together a mix of Cuban and Peruvian musicians to perform it. After months of intense rehearsals Mayimbe was born on May 29, 2010. Barbarito's music was an instant hit in Peru, and when the demos reached Europe and the USA, they became a popular part of the DJs playlists.

In 2011 Mayimbe released their first CD "De La Habana a Perú" and it achieved instant success. In 2012 they did their first European tour followed by their first US tour in 2013 where the debut concert at Cafe Cocomo was packed and the band proved that they were a genuine article with a show that left fans gasping for breath.
Mayimbe has worked hard to break down the prejudices faced by any timba band not coming out of Havana, and they have been extremely successful. They are one of the busiest bands in Lima and have proven themselves to both the European and US audiences. BFM toured successfully Europe in September and October of 2015, with an extensive 23 date tour. They were back by popular demand presenting their brand-new album 'Te Vi Nacer' in March and April 2016. They toured Europe again in 2018 and 2019. Due to the deadly COVID-19 Pandemia, their scheduled North American tour was cancelled and is being rescheduled.

Book Barbaro Fines y su Mayimbe

AWARDS

2009 Lucas Awards Winner, Havana, Cuba for Best Song and Best Music Video for “La Gallina” with Bakuléyé

2010 Havana Latin Salsa Winner, Lima, Peru - Salsa Orchestra Revelation

2011 Fiesta Cuba Award Winner. France - Best Album of 2011

2012 Persepolis Awards Winner - Best Orchestra of the Year

2012 Bilongo Awards Winner -Best Orchestra of the Year

2012 Ficco Ricco Awards Winner, Brindisi, Italy - Best Orchestra of the Year

2012 Prix MCF. France - Révélation de l'année

2014 Pilsen Estrellas Awards Winner, Lima, Peru - Best Director and Producer of Cuban Music

2018 Billboard Awards Winner - Best Salsa Group Nucleo Urbano of Colombia.

Winning over Grupo Niche and Orquesta Guayacan. It is the most important event of urban music in Colombia.

2018 Billboard Awards Nominee - Best Salsa Production Nucleo Urbano of Colombia

MAYIMBE INTERNATIONAL CONCERTS and TOURS

TOUR EUROPE 2012 “De la Habana al Peru” – 33 concerts, 9 countries

March 2 to 31, and October 19 to November 24

TOUR USA 2013 “Mensajeros de Dios” – “21” concerts, 6 states, 8 cities

June 1 to 29

TOUR EUROPE 2015 “Rompiendo El Mito” – 21 concerts, 7 countries

September 18 to October 25

TOUR EUROPE 2016 “Te Vi Nacer vol 1.”– 17 concerts, 5 countries

March 25 to April 24

TOUR EUROPE 2017 “La Frontera” – 23 concerts, 7 countries

April 21 to June 10

TOUR EUROPE 2018 – 24 concerts, 13 countries

February 16 to March 11 and June 20 to July 15

TOUR EUROPE 2019 “Cruzando La Frontera” – 21 concerts, 8 countries

September 13 to November 9

TOUR COLOMBIA 2022

December to January 2023

MAYIMBE INTERNATIONAL CONCERTS and TOURS

TOUR EUROPE 2012 “De la Habana al Peru” – 33 concerts, 9 countries

March 2 to 31, and October 19 to November 24

TOUR USA 2013 “Mensajeros de Dios” – “21” concerts, 6 states, 8 cities

June 1 to 29

TOUR EUROPE 2015 “Rompiendo El Mito” – 21 concerts, 7 countries

September 18 to October 25

TOUR EUROPE 2016 “Te Vi Nacer vol 1.”– 17 concerts, 5 countries

March 25 to April 24

TOUR EUROPE 2017 “La Frontera” – 23 concerts, 7 countries

April 21 to June 10

TOUR EUROPE 2018 – 24 concerts, 13 countries

February 16 to March 11 and June 20 to July 15

TOUR EUROPE 2019 “Cruzando La Frontera” – 21 concerts, 8 countries

September 13 to November 9

TOUR COLOMBIA 2022

December to January 2023

Book Barbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe

BIOGRAPHY

DOS FOUR (LEYDER CHAPMAN) Lead singer and song writer Leyder Chapman was born in Holguín, Eastern Cuba and raised in Havana. He left his family and career as a professional basketball player on the Cuban National Basketball team to pursue his American Dream. Chapman's talent for performing started at a young age. Even though he excelled in athletics, he was always dedicated to his love for music and dance, and continued to develop his skills as a lyricist and composer. At the age of nine, he began performing in various talent groups in and out of school: dance troops; theater clubs; chorus; and playing percussion. He wrote his first song, "Yo Te Amo Verdad" at the age of fourteen.
When Chapman arrived in Oakland, California he able to fully commit his time to creating music. Music was Chapman’s true passion which moved him to found SAOCO, a band specializing in the fusion of Cuban rhythms with popular Reggaeton. It was at this time that Chapman’s name as a musical artist, Dos Four, was formed. SAOCO released their first CD, "La Farandula" in late 2005. In 2008 they released a follow-up album titled the “2nd Round.” Needing creative room to breathe and explore his own style, Dos Four re-arranged his focus onto his solo career and since 2008 he has released a number of albums such as "Ochanlayeo" in 2008, “Changana” in 2009, “El Original” in 2010, "Dos Mil y Una Tonga" in 2011, and "La Vida Real" in 2013. Dos Four is the lead Singer/Rapper as well as Composer, Arranger, Producer, and Lyricist. He has been inspired by many such as Candido Fabré, Los Van Van, Tego Calderon, Jay Z, Young Jeezy, and Tupac. Fusing Cuban style rhythms with the Urban beats is Leyder's way of honoring and staying connected to his home country of Cuba while also creating a new home here in the U.S. He enjoys sharing his music and talents with his fans and friends and his love and passion for music and his culture is what continues to drive him forward.

Book Dos Four for your event

PAST EVENTS by Caramelo ENTERTAINMENT

CONCERT by MANOLITO Y SU TRABUCO - CHICAGO

May 21, 2010 - First time in Chicago MANOLITO Y SU TRABUCO

Live concert at Park West

DJ Timbero Mayor

CONCERT by MANOLITO Y SU TRABUCO - CHICAGO

May 22, 2010

MANOLITO Y SU TRABUCO

Live concert at Club Mambo

Guest: Danny Lozada

DJ Melao - Miami

CONCERT by TIMBALIVE CHICAGO

CONCERT by MANOLITO Y SU TRABUCO - CHICAGO

CONCERT by TIMBALIVE CHICAGO

Dec 17, 2011 - First Time in Chicago

TIMBALIVE

Live concert at Club Mambo

DJ Fernando CubanMix

THE MUSICAL EXCHANGE

FEBRUARY MOVIE AND DANCE NIGHT

CONCERT by TIMBALIVE CHICAGO

January 2014

Dance in Willow Springs

Dance music and videos by DVJ Caramelo

FEBRUARY MOVIE AND DANCE NIGHT

February 2013

Movie:

Dance in Willow Springs

Dance music and videos by DVJ Caramelo

TIMBA BUS to LAKE MICHIGAN

FEBRUARY MOVIE AND DANCE NIGHT

Saturday, August 24 - Sunday, August 25, 2013

Music and fun filled weekend.

Bus trip to

MICHIGAN

Visit the Village of Saugatuck

Hotel Pool Party in Grand Rapids

Dinner at Pietro's Italian Restaurant

Dance and conga line at Pietro's Nightclub

with DJ Malecon

in Grand Rapids

Dune Buggies Picnic, Sunbath and Swim

Saugatuck State Park

DJ Caramelo

CARAMELO TIMBA PICNIC

CONCERT by ALEXANDER ABREU y HAVANA D' PRIMERA - MINNEAPOLIS

Labor Day Weekend 2013

Music and fun filled

Labor Day picnic and dance at

Countryside Cook County Forest Preserve

Free rumba dance class

Edson

Cuban Music by DJ Caramelo

CONCERT by ALEXANDER ABREU y HAVANA D' PRIMERA - MINNEAPOLIS

August 7, 2014

First time in Minneapolis

Live concert at Varsity Theater - Loring Nightclub, Minneapolis

CONCERT by ALEXANDER ABREU y HAVANA D' PRIMERA - CHICAGO

CONCERT by ALEXANDER ABREU y HAVANA D' PRIMERA - MINNEAPOLIS

CONCERT by ALEXANDER ABREU y HAVANA D' PRIMERA - CHICAGO

August 8, 2014

First time in Chicago

Live concert at Logan Square Auditorium

DJ Fernando CubanMix

CONCERT by DOS FOUR - CHICAGO

CONCERT by DOS FOUR - GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

CONCERT by ALEXANDER ABREU y HAVANA D' PRIMERA - CHICAGO

November 27. 2015

First time in Chicago

DOS FOUR

Live Concert at Siboney Cuban Cuisine

DJ Caramelo

CONCERT by DOS FOUR - GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

November 28, 2015

First time in Grand Rapids

DOS FOUR

Live concert at Pietro's Nightclub

Grand Rapids Michigan

DJ Malecon

CONCERT by DOS FOUR - LANSING, MICHIGAN

CONCERT by DOS FOUR - GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

Sunday, November 29, 2015

First time in Lansing area

DOS FOUR

Live concert at Okemos Dance Studio

DJ Caramelo

RUMBA and CASINO CLASES - WILLOW SPRINGS

Rumba classes with

Chini Domenech Perez

HALLOWING TIMBA PARTY - CHICAGO

RUMBA and CASINO CLASES - WILLOW SPRINGS

Hallowing Party

Dinner, Cuban music and dance

Custom contest with prizes

Sabor a Cafe Stake House in Chicago

Cuban Music by DJ Caramelo

CARAMELO TIMBA WHITE PARTY - CHICAGO

February 3, 2017

Dinner, Cuban Music and Dance

Dress in White

Siboney

Dance music and videos by DJ Caramelo

HOLA CHICAGO!

CARAMELO TIMBA WHITE PARTY - CHICAGO

Every Last Friday of the Month

HOLA CHICAGO CARAMELO TIMBA PARTY Dinner, Cuban Music and Dance

Tortugas's Latin Kitchen

Dance music and videos by DJ Caramelo

Caramelo Entertainment