Los Lobos

Los Lobos Headshot

Band

Famous for their modern rock take on the traditional Mexican music of their heritage, Los Lobos first began during the early-'70s when singer David Hidalgo and drummer Louie Pérez met at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, California. The two boys were amazed to discover they weren't alone in their love of cult acts like Fairport Convention and Randy Newman, and began writing and recording songs using a borrowed reel-to-reel tape recorder.

Soon, they brought fellow students Cesar Rosas and Conrad Lozano into the fold. The band played at numerous weddings and dances, and by 1977, they recorded their first album, Si Se Puede! during odd hours, since all of the members still had day jobs at the time. Unsatisfied with the typical Top 40 radio fare played by most of the bands in their scene, the members began experimenting with the traditional Mexican music they grew up with.

Before long, Los Lobos had discovered their signature sound. They were signed to Warner Brothers records and began releasing albums with slow but steadily increasing popularity. Their 1983 EP ...And Time to Dance provided them with enough money to buy a touring van. Then, a turning point happened in 1987, when the band was tasked with recording the soundtrack to the movie "La Bamba." Their rendition of the title tune rocketed to number one, and they quickly followed it with La pistola y el corazón, an album of Mexican traditionals the following year.

They would dabble in movies again in 1995, scoring the sleeper hit "Desperado," and though Los Lobos would be dropped from their label in 1999, they signed with Mammoth Records that same year to release This Time. They produced their first full length concert DVD, Live at the Fillmore in 2004, and were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

Credits

John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LAStream

Guest
Series
2024
83%

Serenata de las estrellas

Music Performer
Show
2023

Día de los Muertos

Music Performer
Show
2022

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2019

Music Performer
Show
2020

The Music Center Presents Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration

Music Performer
Show
2019

Dear Jerry: Celebrating the Music of Jerry Garcia

Music Performer
Show
2017

The Latin Explosion: A New America

Narrator
Show
2015

US Festival 1983: Days 1-3

Music Performer
Show
2014

Los Lobos: Live at Austin City Limits

Music Performer
Show
2014

Los Lobos: Kiko Live

Music Performer
Show
2012

ConanStream

Music Performer
Talk
2010

Lopez Tonight

Music Performer
Show
2009

Los Lobos: Kiko and the Lavender Moon

Music Performer
Show
2006

Los Lobos: Set Me Free (Rosa Lee)

Music Performer
Show
2006

American Latino TV

Guest
Show
2004

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Music Performer
Talk
2003

Greetings From Tucson

Guest Star
Show
2002

In Performance at The White House

Music Performer
Special
1998

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Music Performer
Talk
1992

Los Lobos: Down on the Riverbed

Music Performer
Show
1990

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Themselves
Series
1989
85%

Los Lobos: La bamba

Music Performer
Show
1987

Austin City Limits

Music Performer
Series
1976

Saturday Night LiveStream

Music Performer
Series
1975

Great PerformancesStream

Music Performer
Franchise
1972

Sesame StreetStream

Music Performer
Series
1969