Los Bondadosos

Originally operating under the name the Kind's, the California-based Los Bondadosos originated in Mexico through the efforts of singer Gustavo Camarillo, Jesús Cardosa, guitarist Rafael Melero, bassist Javier Morales, and drummer Miguel García. Relocating to the United States exposed the ensemble to hard rock numbers, prompting a shift from their traditional pop approach toward Latin rock. Anahuac, an independent label, became their first home, where they cut the debut album Chicana and followed it with Mojado in 1975, which contained the hit single "Cara de Angel." Profono, the company that eventually evolved into Fonovisa, secured the group’s signature in 1982. A 25th anniversary album appeared in 1995, yet the musicians pressed onward, sustaining tours and new recordings deep into the twenty-first century even after chart success had faded. January 2000 brought the departure of founding member Morales and the arrival of keyboardist Enrique (El Quiqui) Gomez for the sessions that produced Mi Mejor Regalo, an album overseen by Roberto (El Beto) Guadarrama, the Los Bukis arranger. Gomez’s tenure proved brief; by early the next year Gustavo Pineda had taken his place. The refreshed lineup devoted itself to fresh compositions and arrangements, completing Unidos and releasing it in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Another collection of Durangese songs, De Durango... Los Primeros, surfaced in 2004, while 2007 yielded Nuestra Historia, a package comprising a concert DVD alongside three audio discs of re-recorded hits featuring a who’s who of guest artists. A 40th anniversary DVD arrived soon afterward, reuniting nearly all original members with additional special guests. Themed compilations continued to appear over subsequent years, culminating in 2017 with the split release Un Mesaje de Dios Para Ti alongside Bronco and the anthology Los Bondadosos/40 Super Exitos.