El Taller Latino Americano is proud to present Grupo Chonta as part of the Formers and Performers Series. Join us as Grupo Chonta shares the sounds of the Pacific Coast of Colombia, music influenced by the Afro-Colombian tradition. The sextet is led by Diego Obregón, a talented marimbero, singer, composer/arranger, percussionist and instrument maker, who creates majestic and mystical music. 

Diego Obregón was born in Guapi, Colombia. As a teenager, he started playing drums and cununo with Silvino Mina, a marimbero well known in the region. Diego soon joined the group and later became a representative of the folk traditions of Guapi. At age 24 he traveled to La Tola, Nariño where he learned to build marimbas. After a year of study, he moved to Cali, where he established a marimba-building workshop, and quickly became well known for his musical creations within the country. Throughout his career, Diego has been performed with the bands Diego, Real Black, Los Bogas del Pacifico, Grupo Naidy, La Cumbiamba Eneye, among others. Currently, he resides in New York and is dedicated to developing his new project, the Grupo Chonta, as founder and director.