El Chicano
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Biography
East L.A
Viva Tirado. While they’ve had numerous lineup changes through the decades, the initial band members in their early 70’s heyday included the late Bobby Espinosa (keyboards/vocals), Mickey Lespron (guitar/vocals), Freddie Sanchez (bass/vocals), and Andre Baeza and John De Luna (percussion).
After the Viva Tirado LP, El Chicano went on to record several more albums for MCA, including 1971’s Revolucion, 1972’s Celebration, 1973’s El Chicano, 1974’s Cinco, 1975’s The Best Of Everything, and 1976’s Pyramid of Love & Friends. They remained active releasing indie titles and performing on the oldies concert circuit until the death of founding member Bobby Espinosa in 2010.Along the way, El Chicano had many personnel changes; members who didn’t join until the ’70s included Ersi Arvizu (lead vocals), Hector “Rudy” Regalado (timbales, vocals), Max Garduno (congas), Danny Lamonte (drums), Brian Magness (bass), Joe Perreira (bass), Jerry Salas (lead vocals, guitar), Rudy Salas (guitar), and Steve Salas (lead vocals), among others. (The Salas brothers went on to join another East L.A. band, Tierra, which was an El Chicano spinoff and is best-known for its hit 1980 cover of The Intruders’ Philadelphia soul ballad “Together”). After creating a buzz in East L.A. in the late ’60s, El Chicano signed with MCA in 1970 and recorded its debut album, Viva Tirado.
Top Tracks
Top Albums
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Viva! El Chicano - Their Very Best
5,547 listeners10 tracks
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The Best Of El Chicano 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection
416 listeners12 tracks
Released:
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Chicano Chant
1,879 listeners11 tracks
Released:
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Viva Tirado
232 listeners9 tracks
Released:
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DiezynueveDelta
Some good ol' Chicano Soul to get the day going.
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AndreMMJesus
Just found an old old vinyl in my house and listened for the first time at youtube. "Celebration" the name of the song. I'm amazed
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javiikiller
I'm sure, I was born at the wrong time. El Chicano es really great.
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realcyndre
under-rated :(
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sbirkoff
vote for new pictures please :)
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epi_gee
looks like he died long before two days ago, a local radio station was playing a dedication to him all day. i figured it had just happened. great discovery none the less. -E
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epi_gee
learned of Bobby Espinoza two days ago...just after his death. rest In peace. Discovered a cd of thiers in my collection today. Never even knew i had it. Giving it a spin now. -E
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BuddyDawg1
I love it when Chong asks Cheech what kind of music his band plays and Cheech says "you know, a little bit of everything...from Santana to El Chicano!"
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MALIKIE
Bobby Espinosa R.I.P, legendary organ riffs.....missed.....
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Tecpaocelotl
Great band. Too bad Bobby Espinosa died yesterday. RIP.
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lametal-80s
I feel healing in El Chicano.
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Funky_Boo
Such an underated band..! Their sound is so great!!! l<3l
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semdeboche
eleanor rigby version is awesome
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1eiht7
Their early style was absolutely awesome on top of having a completely unique sound.
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JungleGymJunkie
I love this.
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