Malo
is one of the most successful and enduring Latin rock bands in the
world. This year, 2006, they’re celebrating their 34st anniversary.
Their biggest hit, “Suavecito” reached number 18 on the Billboard
charts in April of 1972. They’ve played all over the world and have
performed on the bill with the Rolling Stones and Queen.
Malo
has at least ten albums to their credit and continue to tour. In 1997,
along with Tierra and El Chicano, they recorded a live album called
“Latin Legends Live.” The three bands have toured extensively since as
“Latin Legends.” To get the story of Malo, it begins with lead singer
Arcelio Garcia. Arcelio was born in Puerto Rico and moved to San
Francisco with his family when he was three years old.
When he
was a teenager, some friends of his had a singing group and asked him
to sing with them because their baritone had gone into the army.
Arcelio didn’t know if he could sing, but said he’d give it a shot. He
found that he liked it and started to learn from his more experienced
friends. One day a car drove by while Arcelio was singing on the
sidewalk with his group. The driver told Arcelio he liked his voice and
asked him if he would join his band. Arcelio checked it out and joined
the band called the Malibus, named after the sporty Chevrolet.
They
went on to become a very well known and popular band in the Bay area in
the mid-sixties. At first they played mainly r&b, but later started
to add Latin music to the mix. Three or four years into the career of
the Malibus, a guitarist was brought in by the name of Jorge Santana,
the brother of the already famous Carlos Santana.
