Los Rehenes

Emerging during the early 1980s from the modest village of Fresnillo, Zacatecas—the same locale that gave rise to the popular Latin group Los Temerarios—Los Rehenes count among Mexico’s most active ensembles. Their sets lean heavily toward romantic ballads yet regularly shift into spirited corridos and evocative patriotic selections. The ensemble comprises vocalists Javier and Roberto Torres, guitarist Jesus Ortega, bassist Jesus Lambero, percussionists Ben and Gerardo Torres, and keyboard player Francisco Ramon. After issuing numerous albums on the independent DMY Records imprint, they reached wider audiences in the 1990s via the hit singles “Corazones Rotos” and “Traicionera.” Signing with Discos Sabinas (Fonovisa in America), the band delivered three consecutive successes—En Lo Grande, Los Rehenes, and Ni el Primero, Ni el Ultimo—between 1992 and 1994. That same year, nominal leader Javier Torres launched his own recording career with the solo project Javier Torres con Banda.