# El Chicano > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/El_Chicano > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/El_Chicano.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Chicano > Source revision: 1343461306 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Los_Angeles), [California](/source/California), U.S. | genre = [Brown-eyed soul](/source/Brown-eyed_soul), [chicano rock](/source/chicano_rock), [funk](/source/funk) | years_active = 1969–Present | label = [MCA](/source/MCA_Records) | associated_acts = | website = | current_members = | past_members = [Bobby Espinosa](/source/Bobby_Espinosa)
Freddie Sanchez
Mickey Lespron
Andre Baeza
John De Luna | module = | module2 = | module3 = }} '''El Chicano''' is an American [brown-eyed soul](/source/brown-eyed_soul) group from [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), California, whose style incorporates various modern music genres including [rock](/source/rock_music), [funk](/source/funk), [soul](/source/soul_music), [blues](/source/blues), [jazz](/source/jazz), and [salsa](/source/Salsa_music).{{Cite web|url=http://www.elchicanomusic.com/index.php?page=1|title=El Chicano Music : Official Website|website=Elchicanomusic.com}} The group's name comes from the word [Chicano](/source/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](/source/Chicano) consciousness in America. Their initial hit, "Viva Tirado", was a [jazz](/source/jazz)y soul rock rendition of [Gerald Wilson](/source/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](/source/funky) "Tell Her She's Lovely" as well as a cover of [Van Morrison's](/source/Van_Morrison) 1967 hit "[Brown Eyed Girl](/source/Brown_Eyed_Girl)". Original members of El Chicano include [Bobby Espinosa](/source/Bobby_Espinosa), Freddie Sanchez, Mickey Lespron, Andre Baeza, and John De Luna. The lead singer for some years was [Ersi Arvizu](/source/Ersi_Arvizu). During the 1970s, new members [Rudy Regalado](/source/Rudy_Regalado_(musician)), Max Garduno, Danny Lamonte, Brian Magness, Jerry Salas, and Joe Pererria joined the group. On their 1970 album ''Viva Tirado'' the group covered [Herbie Hancock](/source/Herbie_Hancock)'s [jazz standard](/source/jazz_standard) "[Cantaloupe Island](/source/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](/source/PBS) pledge break special, ''[Trini Lopez](/source/Trini_Lopez) Presents 'The Legends of Latin Rock' '', along with [Thee Midniters](/source/Thee_Midniters), [Tierra](/source/Tierra_(group)), and [Gregg Rolie](/source/Gregg_Rolie) (of [Santana](/source/Santana_(band)) and [Journey](/source/Journey_(band))). Latin percussionist [Walfredo Reyes Jr.](/source/Walfredo_Reyes_Jr.), formerly of [Santana](/source/Santana_(band)),{{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}} recorded with the band from 2010 to 2012.{{ 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 }} Original keyboardist Bobby Espinosa ‒ noted for playing [Hammond organ](/source/Hammond_organ) on some El Chicano tracks ‒ died on February 27, 2010.{{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}} Former [percussionist](/source/Percussion_instrument) Rudy Regalado, who spent twelve years with the band, died on November 4, 2010.{{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 }} ==Members== * [Ersi Arvizu](/source/Ersi_Arvizu), lead vocals – 1970 * Eddie Avila, drums (2010–present) * Andre Baeza, congas – 1970 * John De Luna, drums – 1970 * [Bobby Espinosa](/source/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](/source/Rudy_Regalado_(musician)), timbales – joined c. 1971; died November 4, 2010 * [Walfredo "Wally" Reyes, Jr](/source/Walfredo_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](/source/Rudy_Salas_(musician)), vocals – 1970; died December 29, 2020 * [Steve Salas](/source/Tierra_(band)), vocals – 1970; died February 10, 2022 * Freddie Sanchez, bass – 1970 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]LA Music Awards [http://www.lamusicawards.com/act/jerry-salas/ Jerry Salas]Mark Guerrero [http://www.markguerrero.com/4.php El Chicano: Latin Rock Pioneers by Mark Guerrero]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)] ==Discography== ===Albums=== {|class=wikitable |- ! Year ! Title ! width="30" |[US](/source/Billboard_200)
{{cite web|title=Awards by El Chicano|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/el-chicano-mn0000824895/awards|website=[Allmusic](/source/Allmusic)|publisher=[All Media Guide](/source/All_Media_Guide)|access-date=11 October 2015}} ! width="30" |[US
R&B](/source/Top_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Albums)
! width="30" |US Jazz
|- | 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](/source/Billboard_Hot_100)
! width="30" |[US
R&B](/source/Hot_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Songs)
! width="30" |[Easy Listening](/source/Adult_Contemporary_(chart))
{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=85}} ! width="30" |[AUS](/source/Kent_Music_Report)
{{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}} |- | 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](/source/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](/source/Keep_Your_Eye_on_the_Sparrow)" | {{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](/source/Chicano_rock) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Discogs artist|El Chicano}} * {{IMDb name|id=1716214}} {{Authority control}} {{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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [El Chicano](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Chicano) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Chicano?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.