Los Lobos

LOS LOBOS AT 50
It’s a matter of time. 50 years to be exact. And in that time Los Lobos have created an unprecedented body of work, a legacy of greatness. The numbers are staggering: 100+ gigs a year for five decades running, crossing millions of miles to rock millions of fans. And that’s just at the live shows. In between they’ve recorded 17 studio albums, 7 live LPs, 3 compilations, 2 EPs, 2 DVDs, and contributed 40+ guest appearances on their friends’ recordings—all garnering 5 Grammys, an Austin City Limits Hall of Fame induction, the ALMA Richie Valens Pioneer Award, NEA and Hispanic Heritage Foundation Honors, Congressional recognitions, plus countless “Keys to the City” and “Los Lobos Day” celebrations. And those are just a few of the highlights.

But beyond all the hoopla and applause (and the source of it all, really) is the tremendous heart. Rather, hearts. Cinco corazones. Five blood brothers who have dedicated their off-stage time to helping others, working for peace and justice, penning some of the most literate and important music of their time, transforming the hard cries from the East L.A. barrio into songs of hope, tales of common folk finding ways to endure.

The young wolves were weaned on late-night radio’s soul, R&B, and doo-wop. Were cured through the African-American currents of the blues, jazz, and rock ‘n’ roll. An amalgam. As proud Chicanos, their songs have always glistened with the distillation from their Mexican and Latin American roots—nourished by Norteña and rancheras, buoyed by bolero and cumbias, soaring on the rhythms of son huasteco and son jarocho. Los Lobos have helped spread the rich diversity of cultures across every continent, throughout the global community. Kids in Antwerp now know about Aztlán. Residents of Luxor and Ghana are crooning Lalo Guerrero. People from Laos and Bulgaria are belting “La Bamba”—all thanks to The Wolves as cultural ambassadors.

Talk about a living legacy. Talk about a productive half century. And in the true rebel spirit, they did it all on their own terms, against formula. For the ages. To our delight. Quite simply, they are one of the tightest, one of the best, one of the most prolific bands ever. And, amazingly, with the original founding members as the pack the entire time. Unprecedented. As their liner notes put it, quite simply: “Los Lobos still are David Hidalgo, Louie Pérez, Jr., Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano, Steve Berlin.”

There was no moment in particular that inspired The Labra Brothers to create music together, which is part of what makes their story so unique. Having been raised in rustbelt northeast Ohio by parents with diverse musical backgrounds of their own, the Brothers developed a broad musical palette over the course of their younger years – which combined the blues sounds of John Lee Hooker & Stevie Ray Vaughan, the folk & country vibes of Willie Nelson and Garth Brooks, the latin & world influence of Marc Anthony & Carlos Santana, the iconic mariachi music of Vicente Fernandez, and the overt versatility and Chicano swagger displayed by Los Lobos of East LA. More than a mere appreciation for music was the early discovery of their own musical talents, and the sheer love for playing and singing the songs of their strongest influences. Before long, the squad of siblings were putting their talents to work within their own original creations. They had discovered their ability to so effortlessly fall into an instrumental groove, and sing in harmony so naturally, that one could only assume it was the product of some kind of mystical family telepathy. For these boys, music was more than a talent or skill, it had become an inherent quality, a device for communication, shared between brothers.

The band continues to grow their repertoire of original music, and has maintained a team of professional musicians that have completed a vibrant and spirited group. To further warrant their familial title, the youngest brother in the Labra family, Antonio, has recently joined the ranks as band percussionist. To see this band at a live stage show event is to experience an urge to dance that even the strongest can’t resist. It may even leave you wondering if there are open positions remaining within the family.

Their versatility has become more evident with each new original studio recording they have released, which explains why the band has become so heavily pursued for a wide range of public and private events. Within recent years, the Brothers have been featured on a long list of events and productions, including Brite Winter, the Summit FM Studio C on PBS Western Reserve, the “Sundays at Scioto” concert series in Columbus, OH, and the WDVX Blue Plate Special in Knoxville, TN. Their debut album, Colder Weather was released on CD, vinyl, and streaming services in 2019. Most recently, they released their folk/Americana single “Fire” in December of 2021. Be on the lookout for the next Labra Brothers release, and don’t miss your next opportunity to see this band live.