Rando Camasta Dihmes, professionally known as Rando Camasta, is a Dominican singer, composer, arranger, and producer born in La Romana. His career combines bolero and romantic song with studio work in merengue, bachata, and pop. He is the father of singer-songwriter Rando Camasta Cueto, whose separate career explores soul, funk, and Caribbean pop.

Early years and musical training

In an interview with Junior Cabrera published in February 2026, Camasta recalled the influence of his uncle, tenor Napoleón Dihmes, and the vocal skills he developed by listening to José José. He took piano lessons with César Mendoza at Colegio Santa Rosa and explored harmony independently through the songs of Iván Lins. He studied medicine at Universidad Central del Este in San Pedro de Macorís, commuting from La Romana, before music became his principal professional activity.

According to his account, the 1984 Amucaba song festival brought him recognition both for his song and as a breakthrough singer. There he met Jorge Taveras and Manuel Tejada, whom he identifies as mentors. Tejada introduced him to recording commercials for radio and television, work that sustained him for years. He also played and sang at the Hotel Embajador and joined «Somos Nosotros».

Producing Negros

Cholo Brenes brought Camasta into contact with Wason Brazobán, asking him to listen to the young singer. Camasta recalls producing and arranging much of the Negros record that included «Me cambiaste la vida», «Tú eres mi reina», «Muchachita de campo», and «Contigo en la cabeza». In his account he separates out two other contributors' tracks: «La cosa aprieta», by Ramón Orlando, and «Tu ausencia», by Marianito. He began working at home and later received studio support and musical collaboration from Manuel Tejada. Contemporary reporting also credits him with the arrangement of «Marielena», written by Wason Brazobán and performed by Negros, in 2005.

Arranging and musical collaboration

His work with Los Toros Band included «Loca conmigo» and «Si tú estuvieras», recorded while Héctor Acosta “El Torito” was still the band's singer. Discussing «Loca conmigo», he described a rhythmic approach that left out the piano tumbao and incorporated batá and shaker. He also acknowledged Marco Félix's contributions and mixing, describing a collaborative process involving the producer, musicians, and band.

In 2005 he supplied new arrangements for the Los Hermanos Rosario medley performed at the Casandra Awards. His work on that ceremony also included musical production, documented in the press. As a singer, he participated in «Sígueme», a CD devoted to the songs of Manuel Troncoso, arranged and conducted by Jorge Taveras and sponsored by the Dominican Central Bank. He is also credited under his full name with the horn arrangements on his son's 2012 project «Santo Domingo de Fiesta».

Festivals and recognition

Camasta represented the Dominican Republic at the 2000 OTI Festival in Acapulco with «¿Qué nos pasa?» and reached the final. In the 2026 interview, he said he received a special award for best performer and explained that Manuel Tejada prepared the arrangement sent to Mexico. This recognition, described in the artist's own testimony, is separate from the festival's first prize for a song.

In 2007 he won the first Eduardo Brito Dominican Song Festival with «A ver si puedes», which he wrote and performed. The organizers' published results recorded 70 points for his entry. The Ministry of Culture also documented Rando Camasta Dihmes as the recipient of the Manuel Troncoso National Music Award in the Pop-Rock category for «Cuando tú no estás».

Legacy

Camasta's career connects the singer's craft with the work of arranging and producing. His contributions to Negros, Los Toros Band, and Los Hermanos Rosario, alongside his interpretation of Manuel Troncoso's songs, illustrate the range of that practice. The musical knowledge he shared with his son extends this relationship between stage performance, recording, and teaching across generations.