El Chicano

{{Short description|American brown-eyed soul group}} {{about|a musical group|the 2019 film|El Chicano (film)|other uses}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = El Chicano | image = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | genre = Brown-eyed soul, chicano rock, funk | years_active = 1969–Present | label = MCA | associated_acts = | website =  | current_members = | past_members = Bobby Espinosa Freddie Sanchez Mickey Lespron Andre Baeza John De Luna | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}

'''El Chicano''' is an American brown-eyed soul group from Los Angeles, California, whose style incorporates various modern music genres including rock, funk, soul, blues, jazz, and salsa.<ref name=ElChicanoMusic.com>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elchicanomusic.com/index.php?page=1|title=El Chicano Music : Official Website|website=Elchicanomusic.com}}</ref> The group's name comes from the word Chicano, a term for United States citizens of typically Mexican descent.

==History== El Chicano, originally formed by Freddie Sanchez under the name The VIP's 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. The lead singer for some years was Ersi Arvizu. During the 1970s, new members Rudy Regalado, Max Garduno, Danny Lamonte, Brian Magness, Jerry Salas, and Joe Pererria joined the group.<ref name=ElChicanoMusic.com/>

On their 1970 album ''Viva Tirado'' the group covered Herbie Hancock's jazz standard "Cantaloupe Island". The song was one of nine on the album, which included the hit single "Viva Tirado" that went gold.

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).<ref name=ElChicanoMusic.com/>

Latin percussionist Walfredo Reyes Jr., formerly of Santana,<ref name="Santana: Sacred Fire, Live in Mexico">{{cite AV media |title=Santana: Sacred Fire, Live in Mexico |type=DVD video |publisher=Island Def Jam Music Group |year=1993 |access-date= |oclc=47982489}}</ref> recorded with the band from 2010 to 2012.<ref name="El Chicano photo 2010">{{ cite web | title=Walfredo Reyes Jr.: Photos | publisher=Walfredo Reyes, Jr. | url=http://www.walfredoreyesjr.com/photos.cfm | access-date=May 7, 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526032739/http://www.walfredoreyesjr.com/photos.cfm | archive-date=May 26, 2013 }}</ref>

Original keyboardist Bobby Espinosa ‒ noted for playing Hammond organ on some El Chicano tracks ‒ died on February 27, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crnlive.com/CRNBlog/?p=242|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729182834/http://www.crnlive.com/CRNBlog/?p=242|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 29, 2012|title=CRN-live.com El Chicano band member joins elite group in Rock and Roll Heaven}}</ref> Former percussionist Rudy Regalado, who spent twelve years with the band, died on November 4, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Moncada |first1=Les |url=https://worldmusiccentral.org/2010/11/07/latin-rock-timbalero-rudy-regalado-dies-at-67/|title=Latin Rock Timbalero Rudy Regalado Dies at 67 |website=Worldmusiccentral.org|date=7 November 2010 }}</ref>

==Members== * Ersi Arvizu, lead vocals – 1970 * Eddie Avila, drums (2010–present) * Andre Baeza, congas – 1970 * John De Luna, drums – 1970 * Bobby Espinosa, organ – 1970; died February 27, 2010 * Max Garduno, congas * Danny Lamonte, drums * Mickey Lespron, guitar – 1970 * Brian Magness, bass * Joe Perreria, bass * Rudy Regalado, timbales – joined c. 1971; died November 4, 2010 * Walfredo "Wally" Reyes, Jr., drums, congas (2010–2012) * Joseph Baeza, congas (2011–2013); died October 18, 2016 * David "Chango" Chavez, congas (2015–present) * Jerry Salas, lead vocals, guitar – joined in 1973 * Rudy Salas, vocals – 1970; died December 29, 2020 * Steve Salas, vocals – 1970; died February 10, 2022 * Freddie Sanchez, bass – 1970 <ref>World Music Central November 7, 2010 * Larry Chavana, bass (1981–1984)

[http://worldmusiccentral.org/2010/11/07/latin-rock-timbalero-rudy-regalado-dies-at-67/Latin Rock Timbalero Rudy Regalado Dies at 67 By Les Moncada]</ref><ref>LA Music Awards [http://www.lamusicawards.com/act/jerry-salas/ Jerry Salas]</ref><ref>Mark Guerrero [http://www.markguerrero.com/4.php El Chicano: Latin Rock Pioneers by Mark Guerrero]</ref><ref>The Cuban History.com [http://www.thecubanhistory.com/2014/10/walfredo-reyes-jr-musician-santana-conga-drum-player-born-in-havana-walfredo-reyes-jr-musico-congas-nacido-en-la-habana/ WALFREDO REYES, Jr. Musician, “Santana” conga drum player. (born in Havana) ** Walfredo Reyes, Jr. músico, congas. (nacido en La Habana)]</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums=== {|class=wikitable |- ! Year ! Title ! width="30" |US <ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|title=Awards by El Chicano|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/el-chicano-mn0000824895/awards|website=Allmusic|publisher=All Media Guide|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> ! width="30" |US R&B <ref name=allmusic/> ! width="30" |US Jazz <ref name=allmusic/> |- | rowspan="1"|1970 | ''Viva Tirado'' | {{center|51}} | {{center|19}} | {{center|8}} |- | rowspan="1"|1971 | ''Revolución'' | {{center|178}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|17}} |- | rowspan="1"|1972 | ''Celebration'' | {{center|173}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | rowspan="1"|1973 | ''El Chicano'' | {{center|162}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | rowspan="1"|1974 | ''Cinco'' | {{center|194}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | rowspan="1"|1975 | ''The Best of Everything'' | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | rowspan="1"|1976 | ''Pyramid of Love and Friends'' | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | rowspan="1"|1998 | ''Painting the Moment'' | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- |}

===Main singles=== {|class=wikitable |- ! Year ! Title ! width="30" |US <ref name=allmusic/> ! width="30" |US R&B <ref name=allmusic/> ! width="30" |Easy Listening <ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=85}}</ref> ! width="30" |AUS <ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=62}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"|1970 | "Viva Tirado – Part I" | {{center|28}} | {{center|20}} | {{center|10}} | {{center|—}} |- | "Eleanor Rigby" | {{center|115}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | rowspan="1"|1971 | "Cubano Chant" | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | rowspan="2"|1972 | "Brown Eyed Girl" | {{center|45}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|87}} |- | "Satisfy Me Woman" | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | rowspan="2"|1973 | "Last Tango in Paris" | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | "Tell Her She's Lovely" | {{center|40}} | {{center|98}} | {{center|22}} | {{center|54}} |- | rowspan="1"|1975 | "Baretta's Theme" | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | rowspan="1"|1983 | "Do You Want Me" | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- | rowspan="1"|1984 | "Let Me Dance with You" | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} | {{center|—}} |- |}

==See also== *Chicano rock

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Discogs artist|El Chicano}} * {{IMDb name|id=1716214}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chicano, El}} Category:1969 establishments in California Category:2000 disestablishments in California Category:American soul musical groups Category:Chicano rock musicians Category:American Latin musical groups Category:MCA Records artists Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2000 Category:Musical groups established in 1969 Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles Category:Rock music groups from California