Jerry Salas

El Chicano grew out of the burgeoning Latino music scene from the streets of East Los Angeles. Originally as “The VIP’s”, founded by Freddie Sanchez, El Chicano was the most successful of the L.A. Latino Rock recording artists. Their 7 album run for MCA Records included classic albums such as Viva Tirado, Celebration, Revolucion and Cinco. Viva Tirado (a tribute to Mexican bullfighter, Jose Ramon Tirado) composed by Maestro Gerald Wilson, was their big crossover smash. It was significant also for charting in all music chart categories, apart from country and western, and garnered the group their first Gold Record in 1970. and voted by Billboard and Cashbox publications the #1 Jazz group of the year.

The Revolucion album featured Ersi Arvisu on the beautiful ballad “Sabor A Mi ”, an Eastside anthem. The Celebration album featured knockout versions of Cream’s "I Feel Free", Joe Zawinul’s "In A Silent Way", and a superb cover of Van Morrison’s composition "Brown Eyed Girl", highlighting the vocals of Freddie Sanchez and Steve Salas with a Latin rock groove - another classic cut. Their recordings showed a versatile and wide ranging adaptation of all that was currently hip and happening in the 70’s USA music scene.

“Tell Her She’s Lovely”, featuring the strong vocals of Jerry Salas, was another Top 40 hit in 1973 on the self-titled LP, El Chicano, that also went Gold for the group.

Over a 40 year span, the group has garnered 5 Gold records and was voted #1 Jazz group of 1970. Ten Albums recorded and over 50 compilations with their music also being used on several Major movies. And have been awarded several times for their contributions to community and charities that help children and the arts.

El Chicano has performed in different venues worldwide with many major artists including the Allman Brothers, Chaka Kahn, Jose Feliciano,the Jacksons, Lou Rawls, Sonny & Cher, Earth Wind & Fire, Santana, Rare Earth, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder,Three Dog Night, Rod Stewart, the Guess Who, James Brown,the O’Jays, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations,and the Four Tops - almost too many more to mention, including a long list of Jazz and Latino Artists.

The group has recorded with many musical legends over the years and is still active in the recording studio. Freddie Sanchez and Bobby Espinosa have rejoined forces to work on new music for an upcoming CD entitled “Signature” featuring the distinctive El Chicano signature sound and including two other original members, Rudy Regalado and Jerry Salas.

El Chicano was driven by the swirling, bluesy shades of Bobby Espinosa’s Hammond B3 organ sound. Espinosa’s distinctive sound was up there with some of the best organists around, and integrated the sounds of Jimmy Smith and other Hammond B3 greats into the Latin Rock pantheon. Add to this the underpinning bajo of Freddie Sanchez, with the atmospheric jazz flecked guitar chording and lead lines of Mickey Lespron. Pulling the top line together was the hot rhythm foundation of Andre Baeza on congas, Rudy Regalado on timbales, and John De Luna on drums. The band’s cooking live shows always mixed hot band originals with their carefully crafted cover versions, which never failed to hit the spot!!

Bobby Espinosa has been chosen to be part of a documentary entitled “Hammond Heroes”, a profile of the best Hammond players of the last decades. He is the first Chicano to be so honored. Freddie and Bobby are also coordinating the release of their upcoming autobiographical book, “Through The Eyes Of El Chicano”.

Currently available on Thump Records are the "Latin Legends Live CD" with Tierra and Malo, and the CD "Painting The Moment". Their latest CD release is included as part of the "20TH CENTURY MASTERS/THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION”, featuring new “Best of” albums from the most significant music artists of the past century. The Collection has become the most successful artist series in music history.

El Chicano will be continuing to perform in 2010, after celebrating with a special performance at the 40th anniversary of "WOODSTOCK, the WestFest" at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco in October 2009, where the group actually celebrated their own 40th Anniversary. The audience giving them a well-deserved standing ovation and shouts of "Viva El Chicano"!

Three live videos will be released in 2010: "In The Eye Of The Storm","Latin Music Legends", and a live performance at The Warwick Theater in San Francisco for "The Voices of Latin Rock" Autism Awareness Benefit.

With the untimely passing of original members Bobby Espinosa and Rudy Regalado in 2010, Freddie Sanchez who is the groups Manager says El Chicano is dedicated to continue with the musical legacy that was their passion. The focus for the group now is "EL CHICANO VIVE!"

Now, for the first time, El Chicano's entire glorious music catalogue is available for download purchase exclusively on our website. Select the Media - Music page and click on the photo of your LP of choice.