Sukay, a Bolivian Andean folk music band, was founded in 1975 by quena player Quentin H. Navia and Edmond Badoux. Their lineup evolved over the years, with key members including pan-pipe player Gonzalo Vargas and charango player Eddy Navia, who later became the group's artistic director. The group initially gained recognition for bringing traditional Andean music to stages across North America, including notable venues such as New York's Carnegie Hall and San Francisco's Herbst Theatre. Sukay released their debut album Music of the Andes in 1978, followed by Pacha Siku Traditional Music of the Andes in 1979. Subsequent releases included Socavon (1985), Mama Luna (1986) and Encuentros (Meetings) (1995). The band also performed at major festivals and venues across North America, including the Clearwater Festival. In 1999, Sukay co-founded Peña Pachamama in San Francisco, a gathering place for world music artists.
