Los Chichos

Los Chicos emerged as a well-known rhumba ensemble from Spain whose career extended across multiple decades and reached its height in the first half of the 1980s. Their sound shifted gradually, blending rhumba flamenca with elements of pop and rock in differing proportions and frequently drawing parallels to the approach of Los Chunguitos, another prominent rhumba group active during the same period. The band formed in Madrid in 1973 as a trio consisting of lead vocalist, Spanish guitarist, and composer Juan Antonio Jiménez (also known as Jeros and born March 29, 1951, in Valladolid), along with brothers Emilio González (born December 11, 1947, in Madrid) and Julio González (born March 19, 1952, in Madrid), who began as backing vocalists and later contributed songs. Following a contract with Philips, Los Chicos issued their first full-length album, Ni Más ni Menos, in 1974. They maintained a steady release schedule for the rest of the decade, producing Esto Sí Que Tiene Guasa in 1975, No Sé por Qué in 1976, Son Ilusiones in 1977, Hoy Igual Que Ayer in 1978, and Amor y Ruleta in 1979. Their strongest commercial period arrived in the early to mid-1980s with the successive appearance of Amor de Compra y Venta (1980), Bailarás con Alegría (1981), Ni Tú ni Yo (1982), Déjame Solo (1983), Adelante (1984), and Yo el Vaquilla (1985). After pausing for roughly a year, the group concluded the decade with Porque Nos Queremos (1987), Ojos Negros (1988), and Esto Es Lo Que Hay (1990), the last recordings to include Jiménez, who then departed to pursue a solo path. Prior to leaving, Jiménez had recorded the 1987 Philips collaboration Sevillanas with the ensemble Egipto; afterward he issued the solo sets Tembló, Pero No Calló (1990) and Agua y Veneno (1991) before taking his own life on October 22, 1995, at age 44 in Madrid. By the late 1980s the band’s audience had already diminished amid mounting tensions with Jiménez. Following his exit in 1990, Los Chicos reformed by recruiting Emilio’s son Emilio Gonzalez (known as Júnior) to fill the vacancy and proceeded to release Sangre Gitana (1991), ¡Amigos, No Pasa Ná! (1994), and Gitano (1996). Another five-year hiatus preceded their return on Mercury Records with Ladrón de Amores (2001) and Cabibi (2002). In 2005 Universal Music reissued the group’s catalog in remastered editions, and in 2008 the label issued the retrospective collection Hasta Aquí Hemos Llegado.