La Sombra de Chicago or La Sombra de Tony Guerrero or the Windy City Boys is a Tejano band founded by Tony Guerrero.[1] Originally from the Chicago suburb of Aurora, Illinois, the group gained national acclaim and success after moving to Corpus Christi, Texas, the headquarters of their label, Freddie Records.

La Sombra
Also known asThe Windy City Boys
OriginAurora, Illinois, United States
GenresTejano/Tex-Mex, cumbia, hip hop, rock, soul
Years active1970s–1990s, 2008, Present
LabelsInternational Recording Company/IRC (1977-1981), Freddie Records (1984-1990), Fonovisa Records (1991-1994), EMI Latin (1995-1997)

Career edit

La Sombra released over twenty full-length studio albums featuring songs in both Spanish and English. Following numerous line-up changes, the group disbanded in 1995, briefly reuniting in 2008 for a number of live shows.

La Sombra has been credited with influencing the Tejano music fields in terms of musical style, dress, and concert performances as well as a generation of newer artists.

Select discography edit

Studio albums edit

  • Mi Guerita Coca-Cola (1984)(First album on Freddie Records and debut)
  • Where's The Beef? (1984)
  • No Hay Derecho (1984)
  • Eres Tu Muchachita (1985)
  • Sombra Love (1985)
  • Botoncito De Cariño (1985)
  • All I Could Do Was Cry (1986)
  • From The Streets Of Chicago (1987)
  • La Sombra Introduces La Rebeldia (1987)
  • Strikes Again (1988)
  • Chicago's Wild Side (1988)
  • One Of A Kind (1988)
  • The Chi-Town Boys R Back (1989)
  • Good Boys Wear White (1990) (Last album on Freddie Records)
  • Porque Te Quiero (1991) (First album on Fonovisa)
  • Intocable (1992)
  • Ilusiones (1993)
  • Caliente Dulce Amor (1994) (Last album on Fonovisa)
  • Mas Que Todo (1995) (First album on EMI Latin)
  • Alborotados (1997) (Last album on EMI Latin)
  • Todo Me Recuerda A Ti (1999)

Compilations edit

  • Come Together (1985)
  • Double Shot (1988)
  • Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (1990)
  • Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1991)
  • Awesome (1991)
  • The Greatest Show On Earth (1991)
  • Lo Mejor (1993)
  • 10th Anniversary (1994)
  • Our Very Best (1995)
  • Las Mejores Cumbias (1995)
  • 30 Greatest Hits (1997)
  • 30 Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (2000)
  • In Concert (2001)
  • 30 Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (2002)
  • The Original Recordings (2004)
  • Mano A Mano (2004)
  • 20 Exitos De Recuerdo (2005)
  • The Original Recordings 2 (2005)
  • Anthology (2007)
  • Battle of The 80s (2008)

Band members edit

  • Antonio "Tony" Guerrero Jr. - lead vocals, background vocals, accordion
  • Gavino Guerrero - lead vocals, background vocals, trumpet (1979 - 1994)
  • Cruz Guerrero - keyboards, background vocals
  • Albert "Tiger" Diaz - trumpet, saxophone, background vocals (1985 - 1989)
  • Rene Limas - keyboards (1984 - 1987)
  • Ceaser Mojica - keyboards, vocals (1988)
  • Jesse Huerta - drums, background vocals (1977 - 1995)
  • Lorenzo "Chencho" Benavides - lead vocals (1977 - 1981)
  • Jose "Pepper" Gonzales - guitar (1978 - 1993)
  • Harvey Gonzales - bass guitar, background vocals (1978 - 1995)
  • Frankie Trevino - guitar (1985 - 1987)
  • Alex "Pretty Boy" Ramirez - keyboards, accordion (1989 - 1995)
  • Ray Talamantez Jr. - trumpet, saxophone, vocals
  • Rogelio Zavala Jr.-Keyboards, vocals
  • Alex (Chuco) Gutierrez - keyboards, vocals (1986)
  • Adam Vargas - guitar
  • Cruz Martínez - keyboard (1989–1996)
  • Andrew Maes - background vocals
  • Bobby Rios - bass guitar and vocals (1996-Current)
  • Rene Ximenez - drums (1999,2000, 2009,2010)
  • Roland Gutierrez - keyboards
  • Jesse Colon - trumpet (1981 – 1984)
  • Joel Garza - drums (1994 – 1995)
  • Joe Eric Griego - drums (1997)

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1985 Tejano Music Awards Most Promising Band of the Year La Sombra Won [2]
1990 Tejano Music Awards Single of the Year "El Sapo" Nominated [3]
1991 Tejano Music Awards Album of the Year – Orchestra Good Boys Nominated [4]
Song of the Year "El Sapo" Nominated
Single of the Year "A Donde Vas"
"El Sapo"
Nominated
1992 Grammy Awards Best Mexican-American Album Porque Te Quiero Nominated [5]
Premio Lo Nuestro Regional Mexican Group of the Year La Sombra Nominated [6]
2017 Tejano Roots Hall of Fame Tony Guerrero Inducted [7]
Tejano Music Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated [8]
Song of the Year "Mi Cumbia"
Album of the Year – Tejano Look Who's Back

References edit

  1. ^ Blankenship, Bill. "Music acts flavor Fiesta's closing nights". The Topeka Capital-Journal. The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Past Tejano Music Awards Winners 1981 to Present". Tejano Music Awards.
  3. ^ Flores Jr, Adolfo (December 9, 1990). "Tejano Music Celebrates in Awards Show". Del Rio News Herald. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  4. ^ "1991 Tejano Music Award Finalists". Colorado Springs Hispania News. February 21, 1991. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  5. ^ "La Sombra | Artist | GRAMMY.com". Grammy.
  6. ^ "Ana Gabriel leads nominees for Latin Music Awards". Billboard. 104 (13). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 28, 1992.
  7. ^ Medina, John Henry (January 10, 2017). "Tejano R.O.O.T.S Hall of Fame inducts over 80 individuals into 2016 class". Tejano Nation.
  8. ^ Medina, John Henry (October 5, 2017). "Top 5 Nominees Announced for 37th Tejano Music Awards". Tejano Nation.

External links edit