Félix Cumbé —born Fritz Sterlin Odine in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on 4 August 1964, died in Santo Domingo on 11 February 2025— was a Haitian-born, naturalized Dominican singer and composer who spent more than forty years moving between Dominican merengue and bachata and Haitian kompa.

From Aníbal Bravo’s orchestra

He emigrated to the Dominican Republic at thirteen, and began recording in the 1980s with «El Gatico», written for Aníbal Bravo’s orchestra. His popularity grew with «Feliz Cumbé» and «Déjame Volver», the latter performed together with Fernando Villalona.

Between two islands’ rhythms

After leaving Bravo’s orchestra he formed his own group, then relocated to Haiti, where he led the orchestra «Super Star» to three years of notable success, before returning to the Dominican Republic to form a bachata group. His debut bachata release, «Félix Cumbé Bachateando», was followed by «Rompecorazones», «El Inmigrante», «La Punta Temblorosa» and «El Tíguere que Pulla», among others.

A voice for immigrants

Beyond its dancefloor hits, his catalogue included socially conscious songs such as «El Inmigrante», a chronicle of the dignity and hardship of diaspora life, and «La Niña Violada», which denounced abuse against women and girls. He returned to the spotlight in 2012 with «Tú No ’Ta’ pa’ Mí», was naturalized as a Dominican citizen in 2022, and in 2024, after suffering a stroke, saw a new remix of his older hit «Fui Fuá» go viral on TikTok.

Legacy

Félix Cumbé died on 11 February 2025 during a catheterization procedure at the Cedimat hospital in Santo Domingo, after months of declining health following his stroke. His daughter, Katty Sterlin Adames, now leads the orchestra he founded, and in 2026 the humanitarian organization Global Alivio posthumously named him «Ambassador of Melody», honoring both his popular hits and the social themes running through his work.