Cesar Villalobos

Cesar founded Inca Son – “Sound of the Inca” – in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1989. He envisioned a group that would play traditional Andean music, which at the time of its founding was a completely new genre for Bostonians. They embraced the lively melodies and the young artists who performed them - with pan flutes, strings and traditional percussion - in Harvard Square. Inca Son quickly caught on, and under Cesar’s creative direction began to record their music on cassettes and later CDs. The group's Andean garb transitioned to splendid Inca costumes, both for the musicians and the top-notch company of Peruvian folk dancers that accompanied them. Venues rained down on the troupe, taking Inca Son Music & Dance of the Andes around the entire continental United States as well as France, Switzerland, Russia, and Italy. The music crossed barriers of age, background, faith and culture. In the United States, Inca Son’s concerts have been presented on some of the most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. Other important venues have included the Atlanta Summer Olympics, the United Nations, the United States Congress and Epcot Center, Disney World. In addition to full-stage concerts, Inca Son has won renown – and also fulfilled its mission to preserve and instill appreciation for a millenary musical tradition across generations – for its work with students of all ages.

Inca Son’s music evolved over the decades into a distinct sound, ranging from melodious to haunting to vibrant, lively rhythms. Cesar's compelling original compositions, featured on each of the group’s 15 CDs, explore themes of nature, love, loss and faith. He merges Andean musical styles with other genres, such as northern Native American chanting in Inca Warrior and lively Caribbean merengue on Mermaid (Sirena). There are also fresh, original arrangements of well-known songs, both American and Latin American, which lend an “Andean flavor” to popular hits.