El Chicano
- For other uses, see Carlos Cotto.
El Chicano is an American chicano rock and brown-eyed soul group from Los Angeles, California, whose style incorporates various modern music genres including rock, funk, soul, blues, jazz, and salsa. The group's Latino-centric name refers to United States citizens of typically Mexican American descent and their distinctive "Chicano" culture with regards to language, music, dress, lowrider vehicles, political thought, etc.[1]
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[edit] Origins
El Chicano, originally formed under the name VIP, arose during a period of increasing Chicano consciousness in America. Their initial hit, Viva Tirado, was a jazzy soul rock rendition of Gerald Wilson's original song about a bullfighter. The song did very well on Los Angeles radio and remained #1 for thirteen straight weeks. Other notable tracks recorded by El Chicano are the funky Tell Her She's Lovely as well as a cover of Van Morrison's 1967 hit, Brown Eyed Girl.
Original members of El Chicano include Bobby Espinosa, Freddie Sanchez, Mickey Lespron, Andre Baeza, and John De Luna. During the 1970s, new members Ersi Arvizu, Rudy Regalado, Max Garduno, Danny Lamonte, Brian Magness, Jerry Salas, Joe Pereria, and Rudy Salas joined the group.[1]
El Chicano continues to be active with a combination of original and new members. They performed on the 2009 PBS pledge break special, Trini Lopez Presents the Legends of Latin Rock, along with Thee Midniters, Tierra, and Gregg Rolie (of Santana and Journey fame).[1]
In 2010, two former members of El Chicano passed away: Co-founder and keyboardist Bobby Espinosa, who laid down the Hammond organ on many of the band's most popular tracks such as Viva Tirado, died on 2010 February 27, and percussionist Rudy Regalado, who spent twelve years with the band, died on 2010 August 4.[2][3]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- Viva Tirado (Parts 1 & 2) (1970) US #28[4]
- Brown Eyed Girl (1972) US #45
- Tell Her She's Lovely (1973) US #40[1][4]
[edit] Albums
- Viva Tirado (1970)
- Revolucion (1971)
- Celebration (1972)
- El Chicano (1973)
- Cinco (1974)
- The Best of Everything (1975)
- Pyramid (1976)
- This is El Chicano (1977)
- Viva El Chicano! - Their Very Best (1988)
- Chicano Chant (1997 Reissue)
- This is El Chicano 1998 (Reissue)
- Painting the Moment (1998)
- Latin Legends Live (1998)
- Masters Collection (2004)[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "ElChicanoMusic.com". http://www.elchicanomusic.com/index.php?page=1.
- ^ CRN-live.com El Chicano band member joins elite group in Rock and Roll Heaven
- ^ WorldMusicCentral.com – Latin-rock timbalero Rudy Regalado dies at 67
- ^ a b Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 7th edn, 2000
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