Formed in 1970, near Iquitos, by the Sifuentes Arbildo brothers Geny y Jharley. The brothers, responsible for lead and rhythm guitar respectively, composed all of the songs for the group (save for one song on the third LP by their tumba player). A third Sifuentes brother, Jorge, played timbales. The group’s first LP indicates the remaining members of the group were non-blood relations: Ivese Soplin played bass, Mickey Sanchez played tumba, Jose Armas was on bongos, and guiro responsibilities fell to Wilson Pacaya.
The band’s second album “La Fiesta Comenzo” incorrectly states that it is their third album, however, I checked with Geny and he indicated the group only released the two LPs for Infopesa.
Geny fifth from the leftPicture of the group from the 2nd LPThe First LPThe group’s second LPHere you can see the incorrect reference that this LP was “su tercer” (the third), in fact it was the second.
Bottom row R-L: Emerson Ruiz Mosquera, Wilson Arévalo Calvo
Here is another great band with an early release on Infopesa. From the jungle city of Uchiza (although it seems some band members may have been from other Amazonian towns). I’d love to tell you the story behind the band’s name, or who played what instruments, or why seemingly only two members of the band seem to be a constant force in the group (i.e., Director, Emerson Ruiz Mosquera and voclaist, Wilson Arévalo Calvo). Alas, like so much of great Peruvian cumbia music, the band’s story will likely remain shrouded in mystery.
I can’t say enough great things about the first release on Infopesa, a largely instrumental masterpiece of intricate guitar work. From fast cumbias to relaxed ballads this disc shines bright in the canon of perumbias.
The group’s proclaimed director Emerson Ruiz Mosquera (born May 26, year unknown), appears to have had a strangle hold on the rights to the group name. From YouTube videos it seems a new formation of the group appeared in the 2010’s. I’ve seen allegations on the Internet that he was the group’s lead guitarist, but I have to respectfully disagree. At best, he seems to play guiro and have penned a few tunes for the group (see e.g., the YouTube videos of the 2010’s where he plays nothing but guiro). Notably, he received a Disco de Oro for the song “Dolor Y Pena” despite that song having been penned by Orlando Abad Rojas. This song appears on the group’s third release (2nd on Music Shop label). It’s sad to say he recently passed in the summer of 2018, I would have loved to have been able to reach out to him and learn more about this group.
The other constant in the group was vocalist Wilson Arévalo Calvo. In the linked video below, Wilson states that he was in the band for about 30 years. Assuming the band started around the time they recorded their first LP for Infopesa in 1975, that would put Wilson in the band until 2005. Wilson was also a member of the group Super Serie de Uchiza, and it appears he was also in Super Serie with a guitarist that he states played in Los Dexter’s, Marcelino Herrera (although the one release of Super Serie does not list Marcelino as a member).
So with not much other information to go off of, based on the song credits on albums, and some inferential logic based off of pictures of the group (see the last shot of this post), it seems that members of the 1975 group that I can definitively confirm were:
Emerson Ruiz Mosquera-Director
Benigno Macahuachi C. – Lead Guitarist (he has the credit for EVERY single song on the LP)
Wilson Arévalo Calvo – vocalist
Marcelino Herrara-second guitarist
I think that the gentlemen on the cover of the first Infopesa disc with the glasses was Benigno Macahuachi (which YouTube comments suggest he was from Pucllapa). This same seemingly unique name appears as an author on two sides of Los Jelwees discs on Odeon (both tracks La Sorda and Son De Las Cuerdas). Likely he plays on that disc and then was brought into Los Dexter’s. That would make the gentlemen standing on the far left of the first Infopesa disc Marcelino Herrara as my best guess.
It should be noted that I’m fairly certain that this pressing has serious issues (not unlike Can’s German Ege Bamyasi pressing), in that it skips on the first few tracks on side A.
LPS-8065
The next release has the group appearing, six years later, on the label Music Shop with a much more vocal-based sound than in 1975. Side note: I’m grateful that Music Shop conveniently enumerated their releases with the year in the catalog number, so I can with confidence say the first Music Shop release (and second release as a group after the premier on Infopesa) was in 1981–Toma Lo Mejorcito (LP.02.81.016) The irony here is that the title track was the only instrumental track on the album, compared to the Infopesa release which was nearly entirely instrumentals (and the most appealing release of Los Dexter’s to my ears).
This disc has songs by:
Marcelino Herrera (2 songs)
Victor Galindo (3 songs)
Emerson Ruiz Mosquera (1 song)
B. Macahuachi (2 songs)
Juan Minches (1 song)
Pancho Acosta (1 song)
Juan Cajusol (1 song)
The next release, also on Music Shop, was Fiesta En La Jungla (LP.02.82.036).
Fiesta En La Jungla has songs by (note that some of the credits are shared):
Emerson Ruiz (2 songs)
Javier Quiroz (1 song)
Orlando Abad (4 songs)
Ivan Rios (2 songs)–from a YouTube comment it’s stated Ivan Rios played guitar
Benigno Macahuachi (2 songs)
Luis Bendezu (2 songs)
A. Cahuana (1 song)
Next came the release Nueva Dimension De Los Dexter’s De Uchiza (Music Shop LP.02.82.060). Not owning this release, I can’t tell you who wrote songs on the album, but from the pixelated back pictures I’ve seen on Discogs, it appears the group has no fewer than 10 (!) members at this time.
Chronologically next comes 1983’s Alegria Y Amor (Music Shop LP.02.83.087). Oddly the disc’s cover states Alegria Y Amor as the release, but the disc’s lable refers to it as “Fiesta Amazonica.” Either way, this disc was also released in Argentina under the name Dorandome Los Patanos (the title of the hit song from the original Peruvian release). Both covers are shown below.
This album lists authors as:
Aaron Pedraza
Emerson Ruiz Moscera
A. Gutierrez
L. Meza
Orlando Abad
Ricardo Realpe
Luis Bendezu
Ivan Rios
Rodolfo Gamarra
M. Rodriquez
M. Concalvez
Next came 1984’s 12 Exitos Super Bailables (Music Shop LP.02.84.110). Again, I don’t own this one, but I know it exists.
Next up was 1984’s A Bailar Empujaitos (Music Shop LP. 02.84.121), yet another disc I don’t own, but some records online show it’s sexy cover below. You’ll note the image below stipulates it as “No. 7” (top left corner).
Next came, Vol. 8 Los Embajadores de la Cumbia (Music Shop LP.??.??.???), and as far as I can tell the last proper Music Shop release of Los Dexter’s. Provided that this disc is marked “Vol. 8” it would seem I’m missing at least two Music Shop releases here. That is one of either the 3,4,5,6 releases is not represented here. Presumably if they’re counting the Argentine release as a separate I’m only missing one release, but still, nothing on the Internet has allowed me to showcase any other releases by the group. That is, until their return to Infopesa.
The group last appeared on vinyl it would seem on a 1987 Infopesa release, Con El Mismo Son, which divulges on the liner notes that the group first appeared in 1975, allowing me to say with confidence LPS – 8065 was 1975.
This disc boasts songs by:
Orlando Abad
A. Gutierrez
Emerson Ruiz Moscera
I hope if someone is out there with more information about the group that they’ll reach out. I’ve put together the below infographic which (only owning two of the group’s albums) doesn’t allow me to conclude much other than there was at least two members that were always a part of the group (Emereson and Wilson). I’d love to hear from someone that knows more!!!
Hailing from Ayacucho, south of Lima and nestled in the country’s interior, the band was made up of (as per the 1st LP’s back cover):
Hector Raul Valdez Ayarsa, ‘director’ and rhythm guitar;
Aquiles Orellana Gutierrez, lead guitar;
Mario Zarate Solier, bass;
Daniel Ruiz De Castilla Galindo, on drums; and,
Eduardo Zagastizabal filing in vocals on a seven of the bands total 24 tracks (e.g., Dejame Llorar, Poco Puede Darte, Luz de Luna, July, Facundo, Faltas Tu, La Pampa Y La Puna).
It should be noted that many of the tracks from the LPs have subtle organ on the tracks, but the player is not credited. I also find it interesting that Hector Raul Valdez was credited as the “director” of the group, yet the lead guitarist is who has the few original song credits, go figure.
It was a challenge to try to figure out what the translation for “sideral” would be in English. Best I can tell the band would be called “The Astrals” in English. Provided the grand influence of Los Destellos (i.e., The Sparkles) on popular Peruvian music in the 1960’s, I have to think the celestial theme associated with Enrique Delgado had an impact here.
The Group released two LPs for Odeon, and a third compilation LP of songs from the first two LPs, save for Dejame Llorar, La Pampa Y La Puna, the compilation album was all instrumentals.
The group’s discography:
L-R: Ritmos Espaciales, Virgenes Del Sol, Los Sideral’s
ELD-1685 Los Sideral’s
ELD-1809 Ritmos Espaciales
ELD 02.01.528 Virgenes Del Sol (Compilation of tracks from the first two albums)
Both LPs contain a lot of covers. ‘Virgenes Del Sol’ starts things off, the classic Peruvian tune penned by Jorge Bravo De Rueda is done here with the surf treatment in style similar to that of that found on the first Belkings LP. Cuban songwriter Ernesto Lecuona’s ‘Siboney’ is up next, done in a similar style. Covering our geography, next the band has a cover of the Chilean group Los Atomos’ song ‘Dejame Llorar.’ This tune is followed by ‘Risque’ (misspelled as ‘Rimski’ on the back cover) (balada) and ‘La Avispa’ (cumbia), both tunes are simply marked “der. reservados” (i.e., rights reserved–whose rights is a mystery to me). This first side is closed with the vocal ‘Luz de Luna’ by the Mexican balladeer Alvaro Carillo.
The second side begins wtih Moises Vivanco’s, the Peruvian charanga player and Yma Sumac’s ex, ‘Amor Indio.’ Next up is the bolero ‘Perfidia’ by Mexican songwriter Alberto Dominguez. The next two songs ‘Llorando en la Noche’ and ‘Hippie’ are credited to the lead guitarist Aquiles Orellana G. ‘Acuarela del Rio’ is up next by the Chilean songwriter Abel Montes. The album closes with the vocal track ‘Poco Puedo Darte,’ but you may also recognize it as a cover of the Monkees hit ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You’ (penned by no other than Neal Diamond.).
The second LP opens with the famed ‘El Condor Pasa’ by Daniel Robles, true to the bands aesthetic this is up tempo in a surf style. Next is ‘Toma Mi Corazon’ (balada) simply stating D.R. (derechos reservados). The third track is by Carlos Saco, the Peruvian composer, titled ‘Cuando El Indio Llora.’ The next two tracks are credited to Los Sideral’s lead guitarist Aquiles Orellana: both ‘Miluska’ and ‘July’ (vocal) are ‘baladas.’ The second LP’s side one ends with ‘Facundo,’ (vocal) again listing simply ‘D.R.’
The second side of the second LP opens with ‘Abril En Portugal’ a D.R. cumbia (it appears this is the song Coimbra by Portugese composer Raul Ferrão). The next tune is ‘Carnavalito Boliviano Humahuaqueno’ by Argentine composer Edmundo Zalvidar. This track was the single for the album, with the B side as ‘El Condor Pasa.’ The third track on side 2 is ‘Romance’ by Enrique Orihuela. Followed by Tango En Mi Guitarra (D.R.) and ‘Faltas Tu,’ the last track by the lead guitarrist Aquile (and one of the few vocal tracks). The album ends with classic song La Pampa Y La Puna by Carlos Valderrama and Ricardo Stubbs (vocal).
Born in Huarochiri, likely around 1945, Juan Benigno Tapia Rojas moved to La Victoria, Lima where he learned to play guitar from his father. He formed his first group with neighborhood friends and called themselves “The Peruvian Boys.” The group covered Colombian cumbias and Cuban guarachas. Due to the growing popularity, in 1966 “The Peruvian Boys” were invited to play in Guayaquil, Ecuador. There they got some radio play on Ecuadorian local radio, Radio Cristal as well as musical halls, under the name “Peru Y Mi Son.” In Ecuador they started to debut some of their own compositions.
Back in Peru, due to the success of the tour in Ecuador, the band felt ready to submit their original compositions to the major labels at the time: Virrey, Odeon, MAG, SonoRadio. Virrey was interested in signing the group, and encouraged the renaming of the group to “Los Ribereños” (The Riversides).
For some reason however, rather than releasing pressings on Virrey, they released two 45 RPS by Los Riberneos on Polydor, presumably a licensor of Virrey, around 1967/1968.
Silbando/Don Jose
La Sapa/Hasta Cuando
Presumably the band that played on these first two discs was the same that would play on the debut LP. Personnel being:
Juan Benigno Tapia (director and vocals)
Luis Sánchez Donayre (timbales)
Hugo Richarti (lead guitar),
Miguel Palomino (bass),
Ricardo Caceres (Huiro/tumba)
Víctor Manuel Saldaña (tumba/quinto),
The group went on to release three LPs for Virrey, the first the great “Silbando” (DVS 659). The title track of course having been compiled on the Roots of Chicha, as well as receiving remix treatment on a 7″ in 2010. The B side of this disc is great all the way through, the Bolero’s on the A side kind of ruin that side for me.
The second release is a split disc (DVS-696) with Compay Quinto songs interspersed wiht Los Riberenos (2/5 songs on side A, and 4/6 on side B). I’ve not heard this, I found this image on popsike.
The last LP was Sola En El Mar (DVS-713). A few tracks from this are up on youtube.
Thereafter, John Beni would form his own record label called “Benisa”, and release one of his own tracks as well as another group of his friends titled “Los Roberts de Tumbes” (I’m not able to confirm this).
Balu/Un Trago En Mananita
The group appears to have reactivated, with only Juan an original member, and he now calls himself “Jhon” perhaps to single himself out. Nonetheless, the music videos up on youtube are priceless, and you can check his new group’s sound out here:
L-R: Pedro Emilio Tardio (Timbales), Manuel Garcia (Guitar/vocals), Pedro “El Chacal” Vicente Grados (Guitar), Pedro Miguel Huamanchumo Caramutti (Lead Vocal/guiro), Pedro Vicente Gomez (Trumpte), Felipe Arrieta (Congas)
Much has been written about Enrique Delgado, but before Odeon released Los Destellos eponymous debut (Odeon/IEMPSA ELD-1735), Pedro Miguel Y Sus Maracaibos had dropped ‘La Paila’ (roughly translated this would invoke something fire sauteed, which indeed the tunes are!) on Odeon’s Lider imprint (LD-1668). This fusion of guitar driven tropical rhythms would soon be propelled to the forefront of Peruvian popular music, of course bolstered by the sinewy licks of Mr. Delgado and company. Point being, Pedro Miguel is an underappreciated root in the great guitar driven cumbia scene that would spring forth in the coming decade and fuel artists for labels that had yet to be formed even.
Born June 30, 1942 in Salaverry, Trujillo (the second largest city in Peru). Pedro left for Lima at age 15 in 1957. In 1961, at 19, he formed his band ‘Pedro Miguel y sus Maracaibos” (Maracaibo is a city in Venezuela–there has to be a story here, but I haven’t unearthed it yet). The band was formed in the Barrios Altos neighborhood of Lima (incidentally the location would become infamous 30 years later in view of the Sendero Luminoso linked massacre in that neighborhood). In 1966 the group recorded its first LP “La Paila.” Apparently the recording for Odeon/Lider/IEMPSA was made possible because his older (half?) brother Raul Huamanchuo Reyes (perhaps better known to Peruvians as the comedian “Chalo” Reyes, who passed in 2016) had a word put in to the label through Pedrito Otiniano & Lucho Barrios, who Raul played guitar for.
Trujillo, Peru (8.5 hrs drive north of Lima (555.2 km)
The group’s first international tour is rumored to have been to Chile in 1970. Gaining international notoriety, around 1972 the group toured to the United States, to the Cuban-centric neighborhoods of Miami. It was this same year that they recorded Con Sabor A Cuba (Odeon/IEMPSA ELD-1871).
While I do enjoy Los Maracaibos early material, as with most groups (any genre/any time) later material for whatever loses the magic of earlier releases. I’d check out any of the below for a sip of the juice.
Select Discography:
LD-1668 – La Paila
LD- 1734 – Pa’los Rumberos
ELD – 1788 – Los Campeones Del Ritmo
ELD – 1871 – Con Sabor A Cuba (starting on this release you’ll find some ‘potpourris’ which for the record I hate…)
ELD – 1979 – Ritmo Maracaibo
ELD – 2043 – A Todo Dar!
ELD – 2115 – Al Toque
ELD – 2220 – A Toda Maquina..!
ELD 31.15.303 – Lo Fuerte De (greatest hits compliation)
Likely recorded around 1972/73, amidst the completion of Los Belkings final LP “Ayer Y Hoy,” Raul Herrera lead guitarist of Los Belkings created a side project called Conjunto Nueva Galaxia (The New Galaxy Band). Releasing three 45 RPMs to my knowledge, the first being El Viaje (Cumbia) backed with Chiya Chiya (Bailable). This was followed by La Cajita (Cumbia)/Pajarito (cumbia). Finally (at least to my knowledge) was released the Santana-inspired (think Samba Para Ti) Sueño Marino (Balada) backed with El Mono (Cumbia). All of these songs were penned by Raul, with no indication of who the backing band was (Los Belkings?).
The singles all show an advanced level of composition with interesting samples of waves (Sueno Marino), innovative song coloring (the whistles on Chiya Chiya) and just general overall catchy Peruvian Cumbias.
Likely around 1972, prior to joining the INFOPESA label, Los Mirlos recorded their first tracks for DINSA. To my knowledge only two 45s were released under the mark. Of course you’ve likely heard “La Danza De Los Mirlos” that has appeared on a number of compilations and re-releases (e.g., Cumbia Amazonica, Cumbias Chichadelicas, Roots of Cumbia). And for good reason, this tune launched the bands career in the wake of this single’s success. The A side is backed with El Achoradito (don’t ask me what it means), an equally up-beat cumbia with slinky guitar work:
Hot off the success of “La Danza de Los Mirlos,” the band continued marketing themselves with another gimmicky animal named theme; “La Marcha Del Pato” was likely released the same year. My copy is pressed on spackled crystal blue vinyl. This tune features a bit of thinly distorted guitar work by the ever melodic and rapid fire guitar of Gilberto Reategui.
My copy is pressed on translucent blue vinyl, this is a great disc, with the majority of its strength in the B side “Cumbia Pop.” Like Los Orientales’ epic B side “Lobos Al Escape” trumps that disc’s A side “La Carcocha,” Cumbia Pop is the gem on this disc, overshadowing “Domingo Por La Manana.” Which oddly enough, “Domingo Por La Manana,” is actually a cover of Hugo Blanco’s “Transandina,” but is not credited as such. Cumbia Pop was compiled onto Vampisoul’s Cumbia Beat Vol. 1 release.
From the Ayacucho region, Los Beltons were, like so many other Peruvian cumbia bands, a family affair among brothers Américo, Rubén, Lino, Atilio and Gotardo of the Vilcatoma Aranda family. The brothers/band released at least 10 45 RPMs and to my ears nothing else, sadly, sounds like the fuzzed-out madness of Cumbia Pop..
Hailing from Huacho, Peru (about 140 km, or two hours north of Lima) Carlos Augusto Lucho Laverda was an earlier pioneer in the wah-wah (gua-gua) sound of Peruvian cumbia. Maximiliano Chavez, of Los Orientales de Paramonga fame, cited him as an influential guitarist that first gave him the idea to emulate that trademark tone. Aside from this I know nothing else of the artist.
Recording under the moniker “Augusto Lucho Y Sus Satelites” Augusto and his band cut a number of tracks for Virrey records. As far as I know three of these releases are:
Virrey 3264 Sopa De Pichon (Guaracha)/Los Duendes (Guaracha)
Virrey 3318 La Bomba Es (Guaracha)/Baile De Las Gallinas (Guaracha)
All are credited to Augusto, save for the first 45 RPM which credits Sopa de Pichon to “F. Grillo” and Los Duendes to Augusto and “J. Diaz.” Augusto Lucho Y Sus Satelites sound is full and vibrant, and most tracks save for the Bolero are upbeat and filled out by brass.
A presumably later release was discovered on a label called “Dicos Del Puerto,” which credits a track to “Augusto Lucho La Verde” and is of a completely different style and likely of less interest to readers of the blog. Nonetheless a clip is included.
Check the clip for a taste of all of the above. Songs are in chronological order.
I’m not sure whether picture sleeves for Peruvian 45 RPM releases are rare because few were made, or because few survived the past four-and-counting decades, either way here is a rarity. The A Side is somewhat similar to the Juaneco track Vacilando con Ayahuasco or the Los Orientales track Sonia La Sexy, with some sultry spoken female vocals (I’m fairly certain the vocalist on those two tracks is the same woman). I wonder if this was released around the same time. The B Side does not provide an author name, and as listed as an instrumental although it has some minimalist vocals.
A sample of this early release from Los Tic Tac’s oeuvre is below, enjoy:
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perumbia.com 