Post by David Gordon Burke on Jan 1, 2005 18:02:00 GMT -5
Los Lobos
Los Lobos was formed in 1974 by David Hidalgo, Conrad Lozano, Louie Pérez and Cesar Rosas. Originally, the foursome from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles started out as a rock and roll band but soon chose a more traditional Mexican acoustic style. During the day they would get together with a couple of acoustic guitars in the backyard and learn old Mexican songs from their parents records which were considered the soundtrack of the Barrio. It wasn't long before those backyard sessions turned into a quest for a broader knowledge of different types of Latino music.
For years the quartet played wedding gigs as well as other traditional Mexican gatherings around East Los Angeles' Chicano community. It wasn't until 1978 that Los Lobos landed its first steady professional gig -- playing at a Mexican restaurant. They were playing only acoustic guitars at first until David Hidalgo got an accordion from a friend who had been stationed in Germany. He brought it to the restaurant and added a more Tex-Mex style to the band.
From this experience, however, Los Lobos learned an invaluable lesson. As they began to mix acoustic and electric instruments while playing traditional Mexican music as well as rock & roll, Los Lobos had begun to bring all their musical loves into their own unique style. By adopting music from Tex-Mex, country, folk, R & B, blues as well as the traditional Mexican songs from their roots, Los Lobos developed one of the most distinct and original sounds to come about in the last 25 years. In the late seventies, Los Lobos released an EP of traditional Mexican music under the title, "Los Lobos Del Este Los Angeles."
Where most bands would have continued in the same vein of Rock as a follow-up to the success of "La Bamba" Los Lobos immediately returne to their roots with their follow up album, "La Pistola y El Corazon." Their musical integrity was rewarded with another Grammy award for the album which consisted of Mexican traditional songs as well as some original compositions along the same style.
Numerous albums, tours, soundtracks and side projects including Los Super Siete and the Latin Playboys have followed. On the album "The Neighborhood" David Hidalgo expands his accordion style to fuse Zydeco and Tex Mex accordion into a very unique sound. Their latest album "The Ride" has been critically acclaimed. Los Lobos along with a few other bands such as The Texas Tornadoes and The Iguanas have been essential in bringing the Tex Mex sound to the whole world and will continue to do so for many more years.
Recommended Listening for Los Lobos
How Much Can I Do?
Corrido #1
Volver, Volver
The Breakdown
Serenata Nortena
I Got to Let You Know
Prenda del Alma
All I Wanted to Do Was Dance
Si Yo Quisiera
Estoy Sentado Aquí <br>Let's Say Goodnight
Los Lobos was formed in 1974 by David Hidalgo, Conrad Lozano, Louie Pérez and Cesar Rosas. Originally, the foursome from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles started out as a rock and roll band but soon chose a more traditional Mexican acoustic style. During the day they would get together with a couple of acoustic guitars in the backyard and learn old Mexican songs from their parents records which were considered the soundtrack of the Barrio. It wasn't long before those backyard sessions turned into a quest for a broader knowledge of different types of Latino music.
For years the quartet played wedding gigs as well as other traditional Mexican gatherings around East Los Angeles' Chicano community. It wasn't until 1978 that Los Lobos landed its first steady professional gig -- playing at a Mexican restaurant. They were playing only acoustic guitars at first until David Hidalgo got an accordion from a friend who had been stationed in Germany. He brought it to the restaurant and added a more Tex-Mex style to the band.
From this experience, however, Los Lobos learned an invaluable lesson. As they began to mix acoustic and electric instruments while playing traditional Mexican music as well as rock & roll, Los Lobos had begun to bring all their musical loves into their own unique style. By adopting music from Tex-Mex, country, folk, R & B, blues as well as the traditional Mexican songs from their roots, Los Lobos developed one of the most distinct and original sounds to come about in the last 25 years. In the late seventies, Los Lobos released an EP of traditional Mexican music under the title, "Los Lobos Del Este Los Angeles."
Where most bands would have continued in the same vein of Rock as a follow-up to the success of "La Bamba" Los Lobos immediately returne to their roots with their follow up album, "La Pistola y El Corazon." Their musical integrity was rewarded with another Grammy award for the album which consisted of Mexican traditional songs as well as some original compositions along the same style.
Numerous albums, tours, soundtracks and side projects including Los Super Siete and the Latin Playboys have followed. On the album "The Neighborhood" David Hidalgo expands his accordion style to fuse Zydeco and Tex Mex accordion into a very unique sound. Their latest album "The Ride" has been critically acclaimed. Los Lobos along with a few other bands such as The Texas Tornadoes and The Iguanas have been essential in bringing the Tex Mex sound to the whole world and will continue to do so for many more years.
Recommended Listening for Los Lobos
How Much Can I Do?
Corrido #1
Volver, Volver
The Breakdown
Serenata Nortena
I Got to Let You Know
Prenda del Alma
All I Wanted to Do Was Dance
Si Yo Quisiera
Estoy Sentado Aquí <br>Let's Say Goodnight