If you’re a fan of Mexican singer Chalino Sanchez, then you’ll know that his most popular songs include “Narcocorrido” and “Camielia la Tejana.” But what exactly makes these songs so popular?
Narcocorrido
If you are unfamiliar with the singer Chalino Sanchez, you may not know that his music is tied to the drug trade. Despite its popularity in Mexico, narcocorrido is still largely illegal. It is a type of Mexican folk music that combines accordion with lyrics that tell tales of drug kingpins, gang culture and criminal activity.
Chalino Sanchez was born in Sinaloa, Mexico. His family lived in Las Flechas, a small ranch in the Sinaloa region. When he was 15, Chalino was forced into a man’s role. During this time, he killed a local “mafioso.” He also sold marijuana, smuggled people across the border and was involved in people smuggling.
While in prison, Chalino developed his musical skills. He began selling cassettes out of the trunk of his car. In addition, he met fellow inmates, who provided him with guns. Later, he settled in Los Angeles. Several of his songs have stories related to his life while in prison.
After his release from prison, Sanchez became a successful singer of narcocorridos. With his raw style, he stood out from many polished acts. For his fans, he was a larger than life figure. But when he was murdered in 1992, his death was a mystery.
The mystery of his death has spawned conspiracy theories. One of those was that the drug trade played a part in his murder. However, authorities could not come to a conclusion.
A documentary about Chalino, called Idolo: The Ballad of Chalino Sanchez, is set to be released on streaming platforms February 1. Two versions of the song will be available. Both will feature two vocalists, including El Imperial, who has struggled with old YouTube images.
The story of Chalino’s life is one of the most intriguing in the history of drug ballads. He was a pioneer of the narcocorrido genre. Even now, more than twenty years after his death, his songs continue to be popular in Mexico.
While it’s hard to say whether Chalino Sanchez was a victim of his own actions or simply a victim of the narcocorrido, it’s clear that he helped bring the genre to the United States.
Camelia la Tejana
Chalino Sanchez is one of the most influential musicians of the last quarter-century. He has made his mark not only on California but on the Northern Deserts as well. In fact, he’s influenced some of the biggest names in the music business, including Biggie Smalls, Jay Z, Pearl Jam, Weezer, and more.
Before he became a popular singer, Chalino lived in a small village. His family was impoverished. However, he was lucky enough to be able to get into a studio. The recording of his first corrido was his way of remembering his brother.
In the early 90s, Chalino was making a name for himself in the Southern California area. His popularity spread quickly, but his music had a relatively local sound. For instance, he didn’t always sing about immigration or illegal smuggling.
Chalino’s success in the United States came in 1992. After he played a concert at a dance club in South Gate, his following began to grow. Many of his clients were immigrants living in Los Angeles. As a result, his show was extremely popular. It was also a violent and chaotic affair.
After his performance, he was approached by the studio owner Angel Parra. Parra invited Chalino to record with his band Los Cuatro de la Frontera. Afterward, Chalino started a rap career.
He wrote 15 songs and recorded them on cassettes. He sold these cassettes at mercados and swap meets. Aside from being a songwriter, Chalino also worked at various jobs. At his peak, he was a successful salesman. But Chalino lacked a label. Until then, he was known only in the border regions.
While Chalino was a big star in the Sinaloa region, he was not a household name outside of that area. The legendary singer-songwriter was born in 1962 in Sinaloa. During his childhood, he was abused by a man who raped his sister when he was only fifteen. So when Chalino’s brother was shot and killed in Tijuana in 1984, Chalino decided to write a corrido to honor his brother.
Chalino’s corrido is still an influential piece of Mexican culture, lauding capos for their illegal business dealings. However, it wasn’t particularly memorable.
Idolo
The legendary Chalino Sanchez is a Mexican singer and songwriter. His songs are about a variety of folk heroes, from outlaws to drug traffickers.
Chalino’s music is known to cut deep. He often performed at parties, quinceaneras and baptism parties. Many people were fascinated with his talent. But what happened to him?
When he was 31 years old, Chalino was murdered in Sinaloa, Mexico. His body was found in an irrigation canal. It’s believed that he died from revenge for his sister’s death.
After a long period in prison, Sanchez honed his songwriting skills. He also created tunes for his fellow inmates. Some of the music that he wrote and recorded was for clients.
As a member of the Cintas Acuario band, Chalino traveled all over the Southwest U.S. and Mexico, making his mark on the region. He even recorded 15 songs.
However, his fame and fortune came to an abrupt end in 1992. Several theories have surfaced as to why he was killed. One of them, which is still unproven, is that he was killed because he was singing a song about a dangerous man.
Another theory is that he was killed because he had a love triangle with a drug lord. This is the theory that is being investigated in the podcast Ido: The Ballad of Chalino Sanchez.
In order to solve the mystery of Chalino’s death, the podcast sifts through the various rumors and theories about his death. It’s an eight-part episode that’s available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It’s hosted by award-winning writer Erick Galindo. Among the cast is actress Kenia Ontiveros, actress Nicole Armenderiz, actress Jennifer Sanchez, actor Larry Hernandez Jr., and actress Contella Nortena.
“Ido: The Ballad of Chalino Sánchez” is produced by Futuro Media and Sonoro Media. It’s a bilingual production, so you can listen to it in both English and Spanish. All of the episodes are around 30 minutes, so you can start listening and learn more about the life of Chalino Sanchez.
Despite his unsolved murder, the legacy of Chalino Sanchez is huge. His songs are listened to by a wide demographic of people of Mexican descent.
Rivera Sanchez
The songs of Chalino Sanchez have been used in the soundtracks of several movies, including This Fool, End of Watch, and Narcos. He has also been featured in the soundtracks of several television series. Most notably, his song Alma Enamorada was featured in the soundtrack of the film This Fool.
In the 1980s, Sanchez was recognized as a musician throughout California. He became a successful radio DJ, and his songs were requested at various music venues. His popularity was also heightened by his songs about immigration. Several of his clients were immigrants, many of whom were in Los Angeles. Many of the songs he penned were romantic songs. However, his repertoire of songs also contained more serious pieces. As a result, many of his fans were Mexican and Spanish speakers, but he is also popular with American audiences.
After the death of his father Armando Sanchez in 1984, Sanchez began to compose his own music. After hearing his performance, Angel Parra invited him to record at Angel Studios. Later, the singer became a member of the group Los Cuatro de la Frontera. One of his most popular songs, La Muerte del Pela Vacas, was adapted into a movie, and his songs were featured in the soundtracks of films such as Narcos and The End of Watch.