Introductions: Los Lobos

Los Lobos are (left to right):

Conrad Lozano - Bass guitars, guitarron
Steve Berlin - Saxophones, harmonica, keyboards, etc.
Louie Perez - Drums, percussion, guitars, vocals, etc.
David Hidalgo - Lead vocals, guitar, accordion, fiddle, etc.
Cesar Rosas - Guitars, lead and background vocals, one cool pair of sunglasses

Los Lobos is one of America's finest bands, performing a mix of rock, country, folk and R&B, heavily flavored with the Mexican sounds the band members heard growing up. Unfortunately, most people know them for a cover of a Ritchie Valens song and little else.

The band started in the 1970s in East Los Angeles. "The Wolves" were friends in high school, and eventually formed a group performing traditional Mexican folk music. In the early 1980s, they electrified and expanded their sound to include influences from all the music they love. Steve Berlin joined the group as a saxophone player, and shortly thereafter Los Lobos were signed to Slash Records.

Their first recording, the E.P. ...And A Time To Dance, featured the Grammy-winning "Anselma." Their next project, 1984's How Will The Wolf Survive, was their first full-length album on a major label. It proved to be a success, gaining them many fans and establishing their presence on the music scene.

In 1987, the band was chosen to record songs for the soundtrack to the movie La Bamba, which told the story of Mexican-American rock and roll star Ritchie Valens. Los Lobos cut a cover of Valens' "La Bamba," a song that had its roots in Mexican folk music. The song was a huge hit, putting Los Lobos in the mainstream. "La Bamba" was an excellent performance, but perhaps too much of a good thing.

Since the breakthrough success of "La Bamba," Los Lobos has quietly built its reputation with genre-smashing albums and rousing, no-holds-barred live shows. The band has taken some chances in song material, but always seem to return to what they do best - rock with a Mexican twist.

I saw the band live in 2006 and was instantly smitten. The show was so much fun and I could tell that I was seeing a really good band. Los Lobos do everything with conviction. They have real playing chops. David Hidalgo is the best lead guitarist no one hears about. Steve Berlin adds the key ingredient - R&B sax. The group can really get in a groove, and they should after 30-plus years as a band. They're blessed with two great singers in Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas. Hidalgo has the more tender voice, filled with beauty and sensitivity. Rosas, on the other hand, brings the rock and roll cool with his smooth delivery and slick style.

What makes Los Lobos great is their ability to perform in nearly any genre. Rock songs, ballads, psychedelic experiments, country - they do it all. David Hidalgo also plays the accordion, and that adds to their diversity. His accordion can make a song sound like zydeco, polka, or cabaret. Of course, the band cannot ignore their latin influence. They bring a variety of Mexican sounds to their songs - cumbia, nortena, and traditional, acoustic sounds. They occasionally sing in Spanish, and they sound great when they do.

Songs To Hear:

"La Bamba" (of course)
"Don't Worry Baby"
"A Matter Of Time"
"The Road To Gila Bend"
"Set Me Free (Rosa Lee)"
"Will The Wolf Survive"
"Good Morning Aztlan"
"Dream In Blue"
"Our Last Night"
"One Time One Night"
"I Walk Alone"
"Hold On"
"Kiko And The Lavender Moon"
"Maria Christina"
"Little John Of God"
"Volver, Volver"
"Mas Y Mas"
"When The Circus Comes"

Albums To Buy:

How Will The Wolf Survive (start with this)
By The Light Of The Moon
La Bamba Soundtrack
Kiko
Good Morning Aztlan
Wolf Tracks: The Best Of Los Lobos

If you really want to get into them, there's a box set called Just Another Band From East L.A.

Final Thoughts: Los Lobos take so many types of real American music and pull them altogether into one beautiful mix. They don't do this to pander; it's authentic, because they truly enjoy what they play. No matter what sort of song they play, they play it like they mean it. They put a lot of emotion into their performance, both live and in the studio. Also, they know how to make you dance! When Los Lobos get in the pocket, there is no band more enjoyable.

A band this good should be a household name, but most people think of them as "the band that plays La Bamba." That's a crying shame. "La Bamba" is but one song in their lengthy catalog of great songs. Those other great songs should be better known, and Los Lobos should be mentioned with other great bands such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and The Band. I strongly urge you to check them out.

Where can you check them out? At their website, loslobos.org. You can listen to most of their albums there for free! That is an incredible privilege and I encourage my readers to take advantage of Los Lobos' generosity. You won't regret it.