News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

LOS LOBOS - PAGE 2


BIO:
Los Lobos was formed in 1974 by David Hidalgo, Conrad Lozano, Louie Pérez and Cesar Rosas. "We all came from the same high school. We were friends before we were ever a band. I think that's one of the reasons we've been around as long as we have," says Louie Pérez. Los Lobos - booking information 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. "The four of us used to hang out - we had a lot of time on our hands when we weren't rehearsing or gigging at weddings or whatnot," explains Pérez. "During the day we'd get together with a couple of acoustic guitars and we'd sit in the backyard and learn these old Mexican songs from our parents records which we called 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. "We decided that it would be something challenging to get really involved in the non-commercial music from the different areas of Mexico and from other countries in the Caribbean and South America, too," adds Pérez. 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. "We were just trying to survive," says Pérez, "taking any job we could get. We were playing only acoustic guitars at first until David got an accordion from a friend who had been stationed in Germany. He brought it over to the restaurant and we learned a few more Tex-Mex tunes in that style. Then we got more involved in trying to get a truer sound, so we brought out a small drum kit. Then Conrad brought in a small bass amp and his electric bass. We began to electrify so that we could be closer to the actual Tex-Mex kind of sound. But when we began doing so, we realized how close that was to the rock & roll format and songs. We brought our bigger amps and we started playing real loud. Soon after that, we got fired." From this experience, however, Los Lobos learned an invaluable lesson. As they began to mix it up with 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. As Louie Perez explains, "We didn't so much want to recycle the music we'd grown up with as much as find the common links between it and all other styles and sounds that were all around us. It became a mission, almost a crusade...bringing music together to bring people together. Around this time in the late seventies, Los Lobos released an EP of traditional Mexican music under the title, "Los Lobos Del Este Los Angeles." With all this experience in different musical genres, they soon started to write their own songs. David Hidalgo, who handles most of the lead vocals teamed up with Pérez to pen the majority of Los Lobos' original songs, with Cesar Rosas providing vocals and songwriting on the rest. About this time, the L.A. music scene really began exploding with a new generation of bands like The Blasters and X. The common ground with a lot of these bands, however, was a mutual respect for the roots of rock & roll and creating new hybrids from the early years of rock. It wasn't long before Los Lobos recognized that their music had a place. Los Lobos started playing gigs on the Hollywood circuit gaining the respect from fellow bands. They hung out with The Blasters and soon were invited to play with them at clubs such as the Whiskey in Hollywood. Among those impressed with Los Lobos was Blasters' saxophone player, Steve Berlin. Berlin became close with Los Lobos and after some jam sessions with the band, was made an honorary Chicano and added to the band's line-up. During this time, Los Lobos were signed to Slash Records. With a small budget and a little time between gigs, Los Lobos recorded "And A Time To Dance" in 1983. The EP's seven songs were an eclectic mix of roots rock and roll and Mexican Norteña music which showcased the impressive stylistic versatility that Los Lobos had crafted. The EP became a favorite of the critics and the song "Anselma" won a Grammy Award for Best Mexican/American Performance. After the EP, time was spent touring for Los Lobos. As Steve Berlin explains, "We spent a year doing heavy road work, which the band hadn't really done before. So we got a little attention, and when it came time to do an LP, we had a lot more time and money, and the band had really coalesced into a more distinctive vision. "How Will The Wolf Survive?," released in 1984, was a result of that musical vision. The tight-knit arrangements, varying instrumentation, and emotional directness mark the band's increasing musical touch as they range over all the musical genres they had played over the years. The follow up to this album was "By The Light Of The Moon" which had an even wider range of influences. With "One Time, One Night" the band showed its country flavor while "Is This All There Is?" showed their jazz and blues side. Remaining true, however, was the songwriting talents of the band. Los Lobos wrote of the torments of the barrio while still providing the foot stomping rhythms that had made their live shows so enjoyable. In 1987, the band made a big contribution to the soundtrack of "La Bamba" and with it came their first No. 1 hit song by the same title. The movie was about the life and times of Ritchie Valens, one of the few Mexican-Americans to reach the rock & roll charts before Los Lobos. While enjoying the recognition of having a hit record, Los Lobos might have felt a need to show its fans their roots with the release of "La Pistola Y El Corazón" in 1988. This album which earned the band its second Grammy Award consisted of Mexican traditional songs as well as some original compositions along the same style. They followed this release with a tour showcasing their talents on the traditional acoustic instruments playing songs from the album as well as other timeless classics from their Mexican roots. With "The Neighborhood" in 1990, the band entered unchartered ground with a mix of different styles that still showed off their songwriting talents. In 1992, with the release of "Kiko," Los Lobos proved once again that they can continue to be innovative. While each song might have a different flavor, it doesn't seem like a blend of different genres, but rather the product of different imaginations coming together. This critically acclaimed album was voted Album of the Year by such publications as The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times. In celebration of more than twenty years together, Los Lobos released a double CD compilation, "Just Another Band from East L.A.... A Collection." Material from this compilation includes live performances, rare tracks from their first independent release, out-takes from recording sessions and favorite cuts from their last six albums. In 1995, Los Lobos recorded a children's record, "Papa's Dream" with Lalo Guerrero and provided the score for the movie "Desperado," the sequel to the film "El Mariachi." They also have contributed to other soundtracks for such films as "Mi Vida Loca," "Mi Familia" and recorded tracks for tribute albums to Doc Pomus and Buddy Holly. In 1996 "Colossal Head" was released. In 1999, they recorded and released their debut for Hollywood Records, "This Time." In 2002 "Good Morning Aztlan" was released for Mammoth Records. With a busy tour schedule, Los Lobos continues to be one of the most creative, diverse and hard working American rock bands of our time.

Latest Articles


eTown Expands Lineup For Virtual 30th b'Earthday Celebration Photo eTown Expands Lineup For Virtual 30th b'Earthday Celebration
by Sarah Jae Leiber - April 08, 2021

Today, eTown announced the addition of Black Pumas, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Sarah Jarosz, to an already stacked lineup of performers for its 30th b’Earthday Celebration on April 22nd—Earth Day 2021....

Tom Morello, Old Dominion, Wyclef & Jerry Wonda & More Added To Backline's 'Set Break Photo Tom Morello, Old Dominion, Wyclef & Jerry Wonda & More Added To Backline's 'Set Break' Livestream Event
by Sarah Jae Leiber - April 06, 2021

This new wave of talent joins a genre-spanning lineup that includes Alanis Morissette, Leon Bridges, Dawes, Black Pumas, Sara Bareilles, Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, Ben Folds, Oteil Burbridge, and more....

Backline Announces 'Set Break' Livestream Event Photo Backline Announces 'Set Break' Livestream Event
by Sarah Jae Leiber - March 25, 2021

During the event, the music industry will come together to honor the experiences of community members, break the stigma around mental health in the community, and raise money to expand Backline’s programs and services in a time when they are critical for so many.  ...

eTown Announces Initial Lineup For Virtual 30th b'Earthday Celebration Photo eTown Announces Initial Lineup For Virtual 30th b'Earthday Celebration
by Sarah Jae Leiber - March 16, 2021

Former U.S. Senator and environmental advocate, Tim Wirth, will join for the conversation portion of the livestream....

Haim, Nathaniel Rateliff Announced as Part of Bandsintown's PLUS Lineup Photo Haim, Nathaniel Rateliff Announced as Part of Bandsintown's PLUS Lineup
by Sarah Jae Leiber - February 18, 2021

Since its debut in January 2021, Bandsintown PLUS has produced memorable shows and fan Q&A’s led by guest hosts like Talkhouse Podcast host and producer Elia Einhorn....

Foo Fighters, Amos Lee, Lee Fields & More Added To GEORGIA COMES ALIVE Photo Foo Fighters, Amos Lee, Lee Fields & More Added To GEORGIA COMES ALIVE
by Sarah Jae Leiber - December 21, 2020

This Saturday, December 26 at 3pm EST, Live For Live Music in partnership with HeadCount, presents Georgia Comes Alive, a one-day virtual music festival to promote voter participation in the upcoming Georgia runoff elections....

Georgia Comes Alive Virtual Music Festival Announced for Dec. 26 Photo Georgia Comes Alive Virtual Music Festival Announced for Dec. 26
by Sarah Jae Leiber - December 16, 2020

On Saturday, December 26th at 3 PM ET, Live For Live Music, in partnership with HeadCount, presents Georgia Comes Alive, a one-day virtual music festival to promote voter participation in the upcoming Georgia runoff elections....

CQ The Drummer Announces New EP: Beach Café Vol. 1 Photo CQ The Drummer Announces New EP: Beach Café Vol. 1
by A.A. Cristi - November 25, 2020

The multi-talented Albuquerque based percussionist, drummer, producer, CQ the Drummer, AKA Camilo Quiñones, is proud to announce his debut EP: Beach Café Vol. 1 featuring Billboard chart topping jazz trumpeter Ryan Montaño! The new EP is due out November 27th on Americano Label. ...

Ryan Montano Teams Up with Percussionist CQ The Drummer For 'Beach Cafe Vol. 1' Photo Ryan Montano Teams Up with Percussionist CQ The Drummer For 'Beach Cafe Vol. 1'
by Sarah Jae Leiber - November 24, 2020

The multi-talented Albuquerque based percussionist, drummer, producer, CQ the Drummer, AKA Camilo Quiñones, is proud to announce his debut EP: Beach Café Vol. 1 featuring Billboard chart topping jazz trumpeter Ryan Montaño! The new EP is due out November 27th on Americano Label. ...

MENTO BURU Releasing New EP 'East Bakersfield Christmas' on November 25 Photo MENTO BURU Releasing New EP 'East Bakersfield Christmas' on November 25
by Sarah Jae Leiber - November 24, 2020

Mento Buru is a 7-piece band from Bakersfield, CA that combines an energetic blend of Latin alternative, Jamaican SKA and reggae sounds....

Jason Mraz, Chromeo, Mt. Joy + More Perform For Team Joe Sings Photo Jason Mraz, Chromeo, Mt. Joy + More Perform For Team Joe Sings
by Sarah Jae Leiber - October 30, 2020

Today, Biden for President announced the latest participants in the weekly online concert series titled Team Joe Sings....

Sylvan Esso, Colin Meloy, Amanda Palmer, Tune-Yards and More Announced for TEAM JOE S Photo Sylvan Esso, Colin Meloy, Amanda Palmer, Tune-Yards and More Announced for TEAM JOE SINGS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - October 23, 2020

Today, Biden for President announced the latest participants in the weekly online concert series titled Team Joe Sings. Each Thursday at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, artists release virtual performances in support of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris....

Biden for President Announces New Participants in Weekly Concert Series Photo Biden for President Announces New Participants in Weekly Concert Series
by Sarah Jae Leiber - October 23, 2020

Today, Biden for President announced the latest participants in the weekly online concert series titled Team Joe Sings....

Top Music Producers Organize GET OUT THE VOTE CONCERT Photo Top Music Producers Organize GET OUT THE VOTE CONCERT
by Stephi Wild - October 17, 2020

A coalition of the nation's top arts presenters have joined forces to create a 6 hour “People's Benefit Concert” to spur Get Out The Vote action in all fifty states.  On Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, The 50-50 ALL SOULS TO THE POLLS concert will be presented on multiple virtual online...

LISTEN: Susan Werner's Americana 'Flyover Country' Out Now Photo LISTEN: Susan Werner's Americana 'Flyover Country' Out Now
by Sarah Jae Leiber - October 15, 2020

Celebrated singer-songwriter and musical virtuoso, Susan Werner has released her 14th studio album, Flyover Country....

Biden for President Announces New Participants in Weekly Concert Series Photo Biden for President Announces New Participants in Weekly Concert Series
by A.A. Cristi - October 08, 2020

Today, Biden for President announced the latest participants in the weekly online concert series titled Team Joe Sings. Each Thursday at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, artists release virtual performances in support of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.   ...

Steve Berlin, Steven Drozd, And Scott Amendola Premiere Original Score To TEN COMMAND Photo Steve Berlin, Steven Drozd, And Scott Amendola Premiere Original Score To TEN COMMANDMENTS PT. 1
by A.A. Cristi - May 26, 2020

DAWN is Reboot's all-night interpretation of the magical and mighty holiday of Shavuot. Gathering digitally for 11 hours, viewers will spend the night immersed in the arts, music, comedy, food, film, learning and conversation - all presented by some of the greatest artists, rabbis and thinkers of ou...

MerleFest to Stream 2012 Festival Photo MerleFest to Stream 2012 Festival
by Kaitlin Milligan - April 16, 2020

In lieu of their annual gathering of music fans and musicians from across the globe, MerleFest presented by Window World has announced a rebroadcast of the Watson and Cabin stages from the 2012 MerleFest weekend. ...

Marcia Ball Will Perform in New York on April 6 Photo Marcia Ball Will Perform in New York on April 6
by Sarah Jae Leiber - March 10, 2020

Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist, songwriter and vocalist Marcia Ball -- the official 2018 Texas State Musician -- will give two performances at The Iridium in New York on Monday, April 6, 2020....

Phast Phreddie & Thee Precisions Announce Deluxe Reissue of LIMBO Photo Phast Phreddie & Thee Precisions Announce Deluxe Reissue of LIMBO
by Kaitlin Milligan - January 16, 2020

For a period of time in the early-to-mid '80s, Phast Phreddie & Thee Precisions were one of the hippest bands in the Los Angeles. So hip that members of such acclaimed L.A. bands as X, Los Lobos, the Gun Club, The Plimsouls and The Blasters lent their talents to their recordings and live shows. So h...

Leeroy Stagger Debuts New Single 'Deeper Well' Photo Leeroy Stagger Debuts New Single 'Deeper Well'
by Sarah Jae Leiber - August 29, 2019

Today, Alberta singer-songwriter Leeroy Stagger sets himself free on new track a?oeDeeper Wella??, premiered with New Noise Magazine. While the tempo is upbeat and breezy, underneath its surface is a story of survival and moving forward. Stagger reflects on his past, declaring in the song's first ve...

Los Straitjackets Will Reissue First Two Albums Photo Los Straitjackets Will Reissue First Two Albums
by Abigail Charpentier - August 22, 2019

In celebration of their 25th anniversary, America's favorite masked surf rock group Los Straitjackets' first two albums will be reissued on Yep Roc Records November 1....

'Morning Becomes Eclectic: Live from the Basement' Out Now Photo 'Morning Becomes Eclectic: Live from the Basement' Out Now
by Abigail Charpentier - August 20, 2019

KCRW releases today a limited-edition double-vinyl compilation of curated live performances from Jason Bentley's tenure as Music Director and host of the station's flagship music program, Morning Becomes Eclectic. Live session recordings include performances by Cold War Kids, Little Dragon, Beach Ho...

Leeroy Stagger Announces National Tour Photo Leeroy Stagger Announces National Tour
by Kaitlin Milligan - August 08, 2019

To say that Alberta musician Leeroy Stagger's life journey has followed a strange path would be a bit of an understatement. A celebrated artist for nearly two decades and 10 years sober, he gained national attention with Hot Hot Heat and Carolyn Mark and has built a world class recording studio. A l...

Abiodun Oyewole (of The Last Poets) Releases Song Featured on WINDOWS OF THE WORLD So Photo Abiodun Oyewole (of The Last Poets) Releases Song Featured on WINDOWS OF THE WORLD Soundtrack
by Tori Hartshorn - July 18, 2019

Today, Abiodun Oyewole (of The Last Poets) released a new version of his song 'New York, New York.' The track is taken from the Windows On The World Soundtrack, which will be released on August 2nd via Ropeadope. Windows On The World is a new film written by Robert Mailer Anderson and directed by Mi...











Videos

Recommended For You