Bermúdez studied in the city of Santa Marta where he also became a member of the military marching band in 1920. He learned to play the flute, the trombone, the piccolo, the Tuba, the trumpet, the Saxophone and the clarinet. He became musical director for the A Numero uno de Cartagena orchestra, and later on the Orquesta del Caribe, in which he played many of his compositions.
Bermúdez and his orchestra recorded an album under the RCA Victor in Argentina, which contained the songs "Danza Negra", "Caprichito", "Cuca", "Cumbia Colombiana", "El Porro Buenos Aires", among others. The following year Bermúdez organized an orchestra with his name and moved to Medellín where he established his home.
Between 1952 and 1954 Bermúdez lived in Cuba and Mexico with his orchestra, mainly to promote the Colombian music overseas. Upon his return to Colombia, he was invited by the first Colombian Television to perform in their first broadcast on June 13, 1954.
Awards: Caracol Radio awarded him the "Caracol de Oro" award.
Danza Negra Cumbia
Lucho Bermúdez y Su Orquesta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Se siente el eco de musica lejana
Y a su compás las pilanderas vienen bailando la cumbia Colombiana
Todo el mundo está bailando esta cumbia Colombiana (BIS).
Cerca del mar se siente el grito
De un negro triste
que canta a sus a amores
Y de su raza cumple el rito
The lyrics to Lucho Bermúdez y Su Orquesta's song Danza Negra Cumbia talk about the lively and vibrant music originating from Colombia. The song describes the atmosphere in which the music is played, with the sound of palm trees rustling and the distant strains of music. The beats of the cumbia Colombiana are so infectious that even the pilanderas, or prostitutes, are drawn to dance to it. The lyrics suggest that everyone is dancing to this music and enjoying it.
Near the sea, the song continues, there is the cry of a sad black man who sings to his love and carries out the ritual of his race with the cumbia de gaitas y tambores. This verse provides a poignant contrast to the joyous dancing and music described earlier in the song. It acknowledges the role of music in expressing both happiness and sorrow and how music is a means of connection to one's cultural heritage. The song celebrates the cultural richness of Colombia through its music, which is a vibrant part of its identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Con el rumor de las palmeras
The sound of palm leaves rustling in the wind can be heard
Se siente el eco de musica lejana
The distant echo of music can also be heard
Y a su compás las pilanderas vienen bailando la cumbia Colombiana
Women known as 'pilanderas' come dancing to the beat of the Colombian cumbia
Todo el mundo está bailando esta cumbia Colombiana (BIS).
Everyone is dancing to this Colombian cumbia
Cerca del mar se siente el grito
Near the sea, you can hear a shout
De un negro triste
From a sad black man
que canta a sus a amores
Who sings to his loves
Y de su raza cumple el rito
And fulfills the ritual of his race
Con esta cumbia de gaitas y tambores
With this cumbia played on flutes and drums
Contributed by Micah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.