Craig Allen says: ‘Meet Los Lobos’

"Los Lobos" is a multi-grammy award-winning band that formed in 1973 in Los Angeles.Vocalist/guitarist David Hidalgo, and drummer Louie Perez met at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. They bonded as friends, thanks to their love for odd and obscure music!

They borrowed reel to reel tape recorders from friends, and recorded their own multi-track songs...anything from parodies to free-form jazz. Soon, fellow students Cesar Rosas and Conrad Lozano joined the group.

The band's first album, "Los Lobos Del Este De Los Angeles," (The Wolf of the East of Los Angeles) was recorded in Hollywood, and released in 1977.  Seeing as all the guys had full-time jobs, the album took about 4 months to finish, and required recording time at several studios.

The band members found themselves increasingly unhappy with just covering American Top-40 (pop) songs. So, they started experimenting with the traditional Mexican music that they listened to as children.

The response to their blend of the Mexican music genre, with some rock influence, was widely received, as the band played hundreds of weddings, dances and parties between 1974 and 1980.

The newly-shortened "Los Lobos" made their first big, public appearance in 1980, as they opened for Public Image, Ltd, at the Olympic Auditorium in L.A.

In 1983, Los Lobos recorded an extended play (EP) called "And A Time To Dance."  The EP was well-received by the critics, but it only sold 50,000 copies.  The good news is that Los Lobos made enough money to buy a van, which they used to tour the country for the first time.

In the summer of 1984, Los Lobos returned to the studio to record their first major label album: "How Will The Wolf Survive?"

"Will The Wolf Survive?" went to #78 in 1985.

The album's title was inspired by a National Geographic article...and the guys related to it as they struggled to gain pop notoriety and success, while staying true to their Mexican roots.

1987 brought another album, "By The Light Of The Moon" (as seen at the top of this article).

That same year, Los Lobos recorded several cover versions of the Richie Valens hit "La Bamba," for the La Bamba movie soundtrack.

"La Bamba" would give the band the notoriety and success that they band had earlier craved!

La Bamba would rise to #1, and stay there for 3 weeks, in 1987.

"Come On, Let's Go," also from the La Bamba soundtrack would be a #21 record on the "Hot 100" chart, later in 1987.

Los Lobos followed up their La Bamba success in 1988, with the album "La Pistola y La Corazon," featuring original and traditional Mexican songs.

From the late 1980's through the early 90's, Los Lobos toured extensively with the likes of U2, the Grateful Dead, and Bob Dylan.

In 1993, in honor of the band's 20th anniversary, "Just Another Band From East L.A" was issued. It is a 2-CD compilation of hit singles, out-takes, and live recordings.

Over the years, Los Lobos has remained active...on the road, and in the studio. To date, they have a music catalog of 20 studio albums, and several compilation albums.

Check out Los Lobos LIVE in 2010!