Krisspy is a Dominican merengue típico and merengue artist from Santiago de los Caballeros whose music reflects the proud accordion-driven traditions of the Cibao region. Santiago is the heartland of merengue típico, and artists like Krisspy who work within this tradition are custodians of a musical heritage with roots stretching back to the nineteenth century. His connection to Santiago places him within a community of musicians who have kept the accordion, tambora, and güira at the center of Dominican popular music identity despite the commercial pressures that have often favored more electrified and internationally oriented sounds. Krisspy's work in both típico and modern merengue demonstrates the genre's capacity to hold together its folk roots and its contemporary popular presence.