Leon Gieco (born: Raul Alberto Antonio Gieco) has balanced acoustic folk-rooted music with electric rock influences. While his acoustic albums and performances with his folk group, PorSui Gieco,have resulted in his being called "The Bob Dylan of Argentina," Gieco has been equally impressive as the leader of a group, La Banda De Los Caballos... [+] Read More

Leon Gieco (born: Raul Alberto Antonio Gieco) has balanced acoustic folk-rooted music with electric rock influences. While his acoustic albums and performances with his folk group, PorSui Gieco,have resulted in his being called "The Bob Dylan of Argentina," Gieco has been equally impressive as the leader of a group, La Banda De Los Caballos Cansados, featuring Ruben Batan (bajo), Vicente Busso (bateria) and Rodolfo Gorosito (guitar). Teaching himself to play guitar at the age of eight, Gieco performed with two bands as a teen. While Los Nocheros focused on traditional folk music, Los Moscos was heavily influences by British rock bands including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Spencer Davis Group. Shortly after moving to Buenos Aires in late 1969, Gieco began playing with Litto Nebbia, Tormenta and Gustavo Santaolalla. His debut album was released in 1973. Gieco's songs soon attracted the attention of international musicians. In 1989, he accepted an invitation to perform concerts in Washington, D.C., Boston and New York with American folksinger Pete Seeger. An album recorded during these shows, Concierto en Vivo, was released the following year. In 1985, Gieco toured and recorded an album, Corazon Americano, with Milton Nascimento and Mercedes Sosa. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Spanish pop/rock band La Unión got involved in the local scene in the early '80s. Singer Rafael Sánchez, bass player Luis Bolín, guitarist Mario Martínez, and keyboardist Iñigo Zabala hit the charts in 1984 with their song "Lobo Hombre en Paris," releasing Mil Siluetas that same year, produced by Mecano's Nacho Cano and followed by El Maldito... [+] Read More

Spanish pop/rock band La Unión got involved in the local scene in the early '80s. Singer Rafael Sánchez, bass player Luis Bolín, guitarist Mario Martínez, and keyboardist Iñigo Zabala hit the charts in 1984 with their song "Lobo Hombre en Paris," releasing Mil Siluetas that same year, produced by Mecano's Nacho Cano and followed by El Maldito Viento in 1985. Three years later the band self-produced Vivir Al Este del Eden. Around that same time, Iñigo Zabala decided to leave, turning the band into a three-piece act. While experimenting with its music, La Unión moved to England to work with Mike Howlet, recording Tentación. On October 19, 1991, at La Coruña, the group made the live recording Tren de Largo Recorrido, which compiled the band's best songs. In a new experimental experience, La Unión decided to make a record in the U.S. Psycofunkster Au Lait was produced by Stephan Galfas and issued in 1993. ~ Drago Bonacich, All Music Guide [-] Hide

One of Latin rock's pioneers, Mexican singer/songwriter/guitarist/actor Enrique Sanchez Guzman began his career in the '50s as a singing, acting teen heart-throb along the lines of Bobby Darin. Along with translating hits like "Jailhouse Rock," "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Multiplication" for a Latin audience, Guzman also wrote hits of his own,... [+] Read More

One of Latin rock's pioneers, Mexican singer/songwriter/guitarist/actor Enrique Sanchez Guzman began his career in the '50s as a singing, acting teen heart-throb along the lines of Bobby Darin. Along with translating hits like "Jailhouse Rock," "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Multiplication" for a Latin audience, Guzman also wrote hits of his own, including "Pensaba en Ti," and songs for other early-'60s Latin-rock bands like Los Teen Tops. Movies like 1956's Canta Mi Corazon added to his prominence in the Mexican entertainment industry, and paved the way for his mid-'60s television show Silvia & Enrique, which also featured his wife at the time, actres Silvia Pinal. Throughout the '70s and '80s his acting and recording careers continued, and in the '90s he worked with Alejandra Guzman, his daughter with Pinal, on some of her early albums. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Mexican alternative pop/rock pioneer Fobia made their debut with the release of a self-titled album in 1990, featuring "Microbito," the band's first hit, followed by 1991's Mundo Feliz and 1993's Leche. After issuing Amor Chiquito in 1995, original drummer Jorge Amaro decided to leave the act, being replaced by ex-Víctimas del Doctor Cerebro... [+] Read More

Mexican alternative pop/rock pioneer Fobia made their debut with the release of a self-titled album in 1990, featuring "Microbito," the band's first hit, followed by 1991's Mundo Feliz and 1993's Leche. After issuing Amor Chiquito in 1995, original drummer Jorge Amaro decided to leave the act, being replaced by ex-Víctimas del Doctor Cerebro percussionist Jay de la Cueva. In 1997 Fobia returned with a live album called Fobia on Ice, recorded at Mexico City's Metropolitan Theater, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. Fobia disbanded in 1998. Soon, singer Leonardo de Lozanne started a solo career while keyboardist Iñaki Vásquez joined his sister Aurora to produce Aurora y la Academia's debut album. After many years, Fobia decided to regroup, bringing de Lozanne, de la Cueva, Vásquez, and guitarist Paco Huidobro back and adding Cha! on bass. In 2006 they released their first studio album in ten years, and fifth overall, Rosa Venus, on Sony International. ~ Drago Bonacich, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Aterciopelados are one of Columbia's top rock en español groups. The recipients of Grammy award nominations in 1997 and 1998, the band has fused its own sound by combining a rock-solid approach with a variety of Latin American musical traditions including mariachi, bolero, tropical, and flamenco. Aterciopelados, whose name translates as "the... [+] Read More

Aterciopelados are one of Columbia's top rock en español groups. The recipients of Grammy award nominations in 1997 and 1998, the band has fused its own sound by combining a rock-solid approach with a variety of Latin American musical traditions including mariachi, bolero, tropical, and flamenco. Aterciopelados, whose name translates as "the Velvety Ones," was formed by former members of Delia y los Aminoacidos -- Andrea Echeberry, who plays acoustic guitar and sings lead, and Héctor Buitrago, who plays bass. Original drummer Andres Giraldo was replaced by Alejandro Duque in 1995 and original guitar player Charlie Marquez was replaced by Alejandro Gomez Caceras in 1997. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Los de Abajo are a raging Latin-punk band whose members have more to concern themselves with, politically speaking, than your average American suburbanites. It shows on their self-titled album, with fiery guitar chords underlying the criticism on tracks like "Tiempos Muertos" (Dead Times), "La Ironía Se Acabo" (The Irony Is Over) and "Son de la...

Los de Abajo are a raging Latin-punk band whose members have more to concern themselves with, politically speaking, than your average American suburbanites. It shows on their self-titled album, with fiery guitar chords underlying the criticism on tracks like "Tiempos Muertos" (Dead Times), "La Ironía Se Acabo" (The Irony Is Over) and "Son de la Liberación" (Liberation Song). ~ John Bush, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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1998 saw the emergence of "rock en español" as a viable part of the contemporary music scene. From the Argentine band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs to Los Angeles' Delinquent Habits, this hybrid of multi-lingual, multi-genre music expanded to include Monterrey, Mexico duo Plastilina Mosh. Their surprisingly enjoyable major-label debut, Aquamosh,... [+] Read More

1998 saw the emergence of "rock en español" as a viable part of the contemporary music scene. From the Argentine band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs to Los Angeles' Delinquent Habits, this hybrid of multi-lingual, multi-genre music expanded to include Monterrey, Mexico duo Plastilina Mosh. Their surprisingly enjoyable major-label debut, Aquamosh, blended Latin grooves and plenty of pop/rock/urban swagger with a little de-constructed blues and Rufus Wainwright-like eclectic lounge thrown in for good measure. Classically trained and techno-savvy programming genius Alejandro Rosso fused his skill with that of Jonas, his vocalist/guitarist partner who was weaned on the Clash and Nirvana. Together, Plastilina Mosh unleashed a collection of Spanish, English, French and Japanese singing complemented by expertly produced compositions. This cross-cultural release defied easy categorization, as there's something in it for all tastes. ~ Roxanne Blanford, All Music Guide [-] Hide

When Soda Stereo's future was unknown, Gustavo Cerati released this intimate and introspective collection of songs that reflect changes in his personal life. He got married to Chilean model Cecilia Amenábar and was expecting a child while this album was being made; on "Te Llevo Para Que Me Lleves," they even sang together. That song is enough to... [+] Read More

When Soda Stereo's future was unknown, Gustavo Cerati released this intimate and introspective collection of songs that reflect changes in his personal life. He got married to Chilean model Cecilia Amenábar and was expecting a child while this album was being made; on "Te Llevo Para Que Me Lleves," they even sang together. That song is enough to summarize the album's feeling: delicate, luminous, and positive. Cerati played all the instruments with few exceptions. The sound of the album was almost entirely based on guitars, although some electronic approaches could be found in songs like "Pulsar." It wasn't as experimental as Soda Stereo's Dynamo or Colores Santos, the album he made with Daniel Melero released at the beginning of 1992. "Avenida Alcorta" is as close as Cerati gets to Soda Stereo's sound. It contains a respectful version of "Bajan," a Pescado Rabioso song originally included on the influential 1972 album Artaud. ~ Iván Adaime, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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