From drumming with its roots in Africa, to Spanish-influenced guitar and harp music and the indigenous contribution of maracas, Venezuelan music is largely unknown outside the country. With a blog based on videos of key groups and individuals I hope this music will reach a wider public and get the attention it deserves. Joropo, calypso, tambores, salsa, cumbia, pop, rock, Latin jazz, electronica - even slushy love songs by soap opera stars - Venezuela has it all.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Los 007 - El Ultimo Beso
Taking Wayne Cochran's tragic song of lost love "Last Kiss", Los OO7 had a massive hit in the early sixties with their Spanish-language version "El Ultimo Beso", which was also covered by Peruvian band Los Doltons and the soloist Leopoldo Sanchez Labastida, better known as Polo.
Formed in 1966, Los 007 was made up of Jorge Chapellin (lead vocals), Jose Galpasoro (lead guitar and vocals), Javier Atance (bass and vocals), and Manolo Alvarez (drums).
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Los Impala - Sound of the Swinging 60s
Los Impala, along with Los 007, produced some of the best Venezuelan pop-rock music of the swinging 60s, covering Mersey Beat and surf tracks. The band was made up of Henry Stephen on vocals, Pedro Alfonzo on piano and vocals, Edgar Quintero on guitar and vocals, Francisco Belisario, on on guitar and vocals, Nerio Quintero on bass and vocals and Omar Paduay on drums. Try and guess who did the original of this track: "La Vi Parada Ahi".