RICARDO LEMVO's mix of Cuban salsa and pan-African styles (soukous, Angolan kizomba, Congo rumba) has been described by the Los Angeles Times as "seamless and infectious." Born in Congo-Kinshasa of Angolan ancestry, Lemvo formed his band, Makina Loca, in 1990. He has toured extensively in Europe, Australia, Latin America, and Africa, and has performed in some of the most prestigious venues in North America: The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Lincoln Center in New York City, Montreal Jazz Festival, among others. Lemvo's five CDs, TATA MASAMBA, MAMBO YO YO, SAO SALVADOR, AY VALERIA, and ISABELA have enthusiastically acclaimed by both print and broadcast media worldwide. Lemvo has been featured on various national and international radio and television programs such as NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR), BBC RADIO, RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONALE, CBS "SUNDAY MORNING," THE NBC "TODAY SHOW," and CNN's "WORLD BEAT." Lemvo has also been nominated for various awards including the California Music Awards and the LOS ANGELES WEEKLY MUSIC AWARDS. The AMERICAN WORLD MUSIC AWARDS voted Lemvo as Emerging Artist of 1998.