Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes

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Kory Thibeault

The members of Cumbia Shoes gathered around a seated Chuck Prophet.

Chuck Prophet and Cumbia Shoes (from left): James DePrato, Joaquin Zamudio Garcia, Alejandro “Flaco El Jandro” Gómez, Chuck Prophet, Vicente Rodriguez, Mario Cortez.

media release: Following an extensive fall European tour, San Francisco-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes, which features two members of the celebrated Salinas, CA-based cumbia band ¿Qiensave? along with Prophet’s long-time band, The Mission Express, will extend their tour into 2025 with stops along the East Coast of the U.S. and throughout the UK in support of their critically lauded collaborative album, Wake the Dead, out now on Yep Roc Records.

The 32-date tour kicks off January 16 in New Orleans and includes stops in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Columbus, and Chicago, among others; the UK run will begin February 19 in Oxford and culminate March 5 in London.

Recorded live in-studio with The Mission Express and ¿Qiensave?, a band of brothers from a farming community a hundred miles from San Francisco, Wake The Dead marks a departure for Prophet, best known for his Americana and rock leanings, creating a genre-defying album that bridges cultures, generations, and musical boundaries. An extraordinary and unlikely pairing, Wake The Dead blends Prophet and ¿Qiensave? seamlessly diving headfirst into the cumbia music world.

Prophet’s fascination with cumbia, a vibrant genre originating from Colombia, began after experiencing a weekly cumbia night at a local San Francisco haunt. “I’d seen ¿Qiensave? at a club in the Mission District,” Prophet explained in an Uncut interview. “They were such characters. I think they were getting a kick from the fact I was digging them. They invited me to Salinas, so I started going down there and jamming with them. Then I asked them to play with me at a festival in Big Sur. The whole place was dancing, it was a real thrill. Cumbia music transcends language. I became a complete evangelist.” 

He quickly became obsessed: collecting old vinyl from Latin America, studying its origins, DJ’ing, and loading his friends up with new mixes every time they came to visit. Following a cancer diagnosis, he had a lot of time to sit and listen as he went through treatments. “I was going through a tunnel,” he recalls. “It was dark. But I had music: music to play, music to listen to, music to get me out of my head. Music was my savior.” 

Leading up to the album’s release, four singles and videos were released including, the “soft Western-esque ballad” (FLOOD) “Red Sky Night,” which shows behind-the-scenes footage of Prophet, his band The Mission Express, and ¿Qiensave? in the studio during the album recording sessions;  “First Came The Thunder,” a melancholy tune that follows a lonesome lover chasing down a memory that hangs perpetually out of reach; the title track “Wake The Dead,” inspired by the Mexican tradition of honoring the deceased with altars laden with offerings; and “Sugar Into Water,” of which Prophet notes, “We play Texas a lot, and this song is a nod to that San Antonio sound. It’s a confection with the spirit of Doug Sahm and the Texas Tornados baked in.” 

Critical praise for Wake The Dead:

“[‘Wake The Dead’] tops a cowbell-tapping, accordion-pumped cumbia with twangy guitar lines, surreal possibilities and a backup plan.”–New York Times 

“...it's fine work from a great songwriter who is following his passions while he can, and that makes it special.” –All Music 

“Wake The Dead is a celebration of being alive to witness the world, even the uglier parts of it. It’s a reminder, too, of what a gift it is for all of us to be alive at the same time as Chuck Prophet.” –No Depression

“What an amazing record. Chuck Prophet should be an inspiration to us all, both musically and in life in general.” –God Is In The TV

“An adventurous, soulful project that deftly balances darkness and hope, shot through with the

unmistakable energy of a veteran musician having more fun than he has in years.” –KQED

“Chuck Prophet gets people dancing for ¿Qiensave? collaboration Wake The Dead.” –Glide Magazine

“...Prophet adventurously explores new lyrical concepts (including calling out Elon for, you know, all that stuff he does) nearly as much as he does "cousin" Latin-American genre territories including samba, bossa novas, and boleros.” –FLOOD Magazine

“A stylistic gem, a spring of brave hope and resilient promise, an abundantly textured offering of

deep reinvigoration and clear, harmonious reverence.” –Americana Highways

“Skewed and passionate rock n roll with an eclectic ‘Cumbian’ heart and soul” –The Rocking Magpie

“Wake The Dead emphasizes a consistently light and festive energy.” –Quboz