Malo (band)
Malo (English: "Bad") is an American musical group known for its blend of latino, rock, jazz and blues. The San Francisco-based ensemble was led by Richard Bean, Arcelio Garcia, and Jorge Santana, the brother of Latin-rock guitarist Carlos Santana.
Malo | |
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Origin | San Francisco, California, United States |
Genres | Chicano rock, Latin rock, Latin funk, jazz rock |
Years active | 1971–1974, 1981–present |
Labels | Warner Bros. |
Members | Hadley Caliman Hipolito Colon Luis Gasca Jorge Santana Francisco Aguabella Frank Corsetti Richard Bean Leo Rosales Tony Menjivar Gabriel Manzo Martin Cantu Aki Starr Frank Bailey Ramiro Amador Forrest Buchtel Ron Demasi Michael Fugate Arcelio Garcia Little Willie G. Mike Heathman Richard Kermode Ron Murray Roy Murray Dan Orsborn Victor Pantoja Tom Poole Roberto Quintana Raul Rekow Steve Sherard Ronald Smith Tony Smith Joaquin Solorzano Richard Spremich Pablo Tellez Abel Zarate Jack Musgrove Brian Beukelman Paul Benavidez Shadow Garza Carlos Rivera Jay Rossette |
Four of Malo's original members (Bean, Garcia, Pablo Tellez, and Santana) had previously played in the band The Malibus. The other three founding members (Abel Zarate, Roy Murray, and Richard Spremich) had played together in the group Naked Lunch.[1] (Bean and Zarate also played in a band called the Righteous Ones together.)
History
Malo's 1972 Top 20 hit single, "Suavecito" (meaning "soft" or "smooth" in Spanish), was the group's biggest hit. The band featured full horn and percussion sections in the style of contemporary bands Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago. Some of the best musicians in the Bay Area were featured in Malo, including Luis Gasca, Forrest Buchtel, Jr., Ron Smith, and Tom Poole in the trumpet section. Malo's music was popular in Central and South America, especially the songs "Chevere", "Nena", "Pana", "Cafe", and "Oye Mama".[2]
After the release of their first album, many of Malo's original band members left the group in a rift widely popularized in the media. Buchtel went on to play with Blood, Sweat & Tears, Jaco Pastorius and Woody Herman; Harrell became one of the most lyrical trumpet soloists, working often with saxophonist Phil Woods; Abel Zarate went on to play with Willie Bobo and continues to play Latin/Brazilian Global jazz in San Francisco with his group Zarate Pollace Project. Richard Bean formed the group Sapo with his brother Joe and still tours throughout Northern California; Jorge Santana embarked on a solo career.
The 1972 "Suavecito" release was written and sung by, Richard Bean. Abel Zarate and Pablo Tellez can be heard playing the signature guitar riffs and baselines. Richard Bean continues to perform the single with Malo and recently shared his story of writing "Suavecito" on CalMagazine.com Channel 9.
A vocal section of "Suavecito" was included in the refrain of Sugar Ray's 1999 hit song, "Every Morning" which was one of Sugar Ray's most successful singles, climbing to number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart, becoming the latter country's second-highest-selling single of 1999. The chorus of the song references "Suavecito". Mark McGrath, Sugar Ray's front man says, "We referenced 'Suavecito' because growing up in California, you know, that was just like the low rider anthem. Any car show or swap meet you'd ever go by, you'd always hear that [song] and that just stuck in your mind." He added, "We actually came up with that part, and it was very similar to Malo's part. We were sort of imitating it, and then we said, 'Let's just leave it, we're gonna change it later.' It really makes the song – we think – so we just left it."
From 1994 to 1998, Malo was joined by new lead singer, Martin Cantu. In 1995, Malo released a new CD entitled Senorita on the GNP Crescendo record label. The title track of the CD was co-written by Damon Bartlett and new lead singer Martin Cantu who like previous band members also grew up in the San Francisco Mission District. Martin went on to write the first single "Take My Breath Away" along with co-writer Damon Bartlett and two other songs "More Than Friends" and "Malo Ya llego" co-written with Arcelio Garcia. Martin Cantu also has several songs featured on the 1998 album, Rocks The Rockies, a live Malo concert recording, recorded in Pueblo Colorado. Since leaving Malo in 1998, Martin Cantu, now an ordained minister who pastors a Christian based church in the San Francisco Bay Area called Praise Worship Center who still tours intensely as a music evangelist as well with his Latin/Pop Gospel band “L-Rey” pronounced “El Rey”. Martin Cantu and L-Rey released a gospel rendition of Malo's hit song "Suavecito" now a gospel hymn titled "Jesucristo".[3]
Malo continues to perform to sold out crowds with founding member Arcelio "Malo" Garcia. Current members are: Paul Benavidez (co-lead vocals), Daniel Cervantes (Keyboards, vocals), Gibby Ross (Timbales), Jack Musgrove (Trumpet), Pete Rodriguez (Trumpet, Trombone), Brian Beukelman (Trumpet), Jay Rosette (Guitar, vocals), Mack Castillo (Congas), and Ernest Martinez (Drums).
Discography
Albums
Year | Album | US Top 200 | US R&B |
---|---|---|---|
1972 | Malo[4] | 14 | 10 |
Dos | 62 | 13 | |
1973 | Evolution | 101 | 39 |
1974 | Ascención | 188 | - |
1981 | Malo V | - | - |
1986 | Coast to Coast | - | - |
1992 | The Best of Malo | - | - |
1995 | Señorita | - | - |
1998 | Rock the Rockies | - | - |
2004 | Malo En Vivo | - | - |
Singles
Date | Name | US Hot 100 | US Billboard AC | Canada |
---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | "Suavecito" | 18 | 8 | 14 |
"Café" | - | - | - | |
"Latin Bugaloo" | - | - | - | |
"I'm for Real" | - | - | - | |
1973 | "I Don't Know" | - | - | - |
1974 | "Love Will Survive" | - | - | - |
1981 | "Lady I Love" | - | - | - |
2004 | "Dilo Otra Vez" | - | - | - |
References
- "wingswest.net - wingswest Resources and Information". Wingswest.net. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
- "Redirecting". Serious-oldies.blogspot.com. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
- "Jesus Cristo Martin Cantu and LRey former lead singer of Malo". YouTube. 2008-09-20. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
- "Searching for "Arcelio Garcia Jr."". Discogs.com. Retrieved September 15, 2016.