Wilfrido Radamés Vargas Martínez[1] (Spanish pronunciation: [wilˈfɾiðo ˈβaɾɣas]; born April 24, 1949, in Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) is a band leader, trumpeter, vocalist, arranger, composer and producer who was instrumental in making the merengue style a worldwide phenomenon.

[4] He began his career with the band Wilfrido Vargas y sus Beduinos by recording his first album in 1972.

[3] He won a "Gaviota de Plata" (Silver Seagull) in the 1992 Viña del Mar International Song Festival.

[9] In 1993, he was decorated by the Dominican president Joaquín Balaguer with the Order of Christopher Columbus in the Knight grade, alongside fellow Dominican musicians Jorge Taveras, Manuel Tejada and Julio Gautreaux for their contribution to the development and dissemination of the national music.

[15] Today Vargas is one of the best-known artists in Latin America with hit songs such as "El Africano" (written by Calixto Ochoa[16]), "Abusadora", "Comején", "A Mover la Colita", "El Baile del Perrito" and "Volveré".