Malo (band)

Malo (English: "Bad") is an American musical group known for its blend of latino, rock, jazz and blues. The San Francisco-based ensemble was led by Richard Bean, Arcelio Garcia, and Jorge Santana, the brother of Latin-rock guitarist Carlos Santana.

Malo
OriginSan Francisco, California, United States
GenresChicano rock, Latin rock, Latin funk, jazz rock
Years active1971–1974, 1981–present
LabelsWarner Bros.
MembersHadley Caliman
Hipolito Colon
Luis Gasca
Jorge Santana
Francisco Aguabella
Frank Corsetti
Richard Bean
Leo Rosales
Tony Menjivar
Gabriel Manzo
Martin Cantu
Aki Starr
Frank Bailey
Ramiro Amador
Forrest Buchtel
Ron Demasi
Michael Fugate
Arcelio Garcia
Little Willie G.
Mike Heathman
Richard Kermode
Ron Murray
Roy Murray
Dan Orsborn
Victor Pantoja
Tom Poole
Roberto Quintana
Raul Rekow
Steve Sherard
Ronald Smith
Tony Smith
Joaquin Solorzano
Richard Spremich
Pablo Tellez
Abel Zarate
Jack Musgrove
Brian Beukelman
Carlos Gomez aka Carlos Gogo Gomez
Paul Benavidez
Shadow Garza
Carlos Rivera
Jay Rossette
Gibby Ross
Daniel Cervantes
Mack Marcos Castillo
Ernest Paul
Polo Martinez
Virgie

Four of Malo's original members (Bean, Garcia, Pablo Tellez, and Santana) had previously played in the band The Malibus. The other three founding members (Abel Zarate, Roy Murray, and Richard Spremich) had played together in the group Naked Lunch.[1] (Bean and Zarate also played in a band called the Righteous Ones together.)

History

Malo's 1972 Top 20 hit single, "Suavecito" (meaning "soft" or "smooth" in Spanish), was the group's biggest hit. The band featured full horn and percussion sections in the style of contemporary bands Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago. Some of the best musicians in the Bay Area were featured in Malo, including Luis Gasca, Forrest Buchtel, Jr., Ron Smith, and Tom Poole in the trumpet section. Malo's music was popular in Central and South America, especially the songs "Chevere", "Nena", "Pana", "Cafe", and "Oye Mama".[2]

After the release of their first album, many of Malo's original band members left the group in a rift widely popularized in the media. Buchtel went on to play with Blood, Sweat & Tears, Jaco Pastorius and Woody Herman; Harrell became one of the most lyrical trumpet soloists, working often with saxophonist Phil Woods; Abel Zarate went on to play with Willie Bobo and continues to play Latin/Brazilian Global jazz in San Francisco with his group Zarate Pollace Project. Richard Bean formed the group Sapo with his brother Joe and still tours throughout Northern California; Jorge Santana embarked on a solo career.

The 1972 "Suavecito" release was written and sung by, Richard Bean. Abel Zarate and Pablo Tellez can be heard playing the signature guitar riffs and baselines. Richard Bean continues to perform the single with Malo and recently shared his story of writing "Suavecito" on CalMagazine.com Channel 9.

A vocal section of "Suavecito" was included in the refrain of Sugar Ray's 1999 hit song, "Every Morning" which was one of Sugar Ray's most successful singles, climbing to number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart, becoming the latter country's second-highest-selling single of 1999. The chorus of the song references "Suavecito". Mark McGrath, Sugar Ray's front man says, "We referenced 'Suavecito' because growing up in California, you know, that was just like the low rider anthem. Any car show or swap meet you'd ever go by, you'd always hear that [song] and that just stuck in your mind." He added, "We actually came up with that part, and it was very similar to Malo's part. We were sort of imitating it, and then we said, 'Let's just leave it, we're gonna change it later.' It really makes the song – we think – so we just left it."

From 1994 to 1998, Malo was joined by new lead singer, Martin Cantu. In 1995, Malo released a new CD entitled Senorita on the GNP Crescendo record label. The title track of the CD was co-written by Damon Bartlett and new lead singer Martin Cantu who like previous band members also grew up in the San Francisco Mission District. Martin went on to write the first single "Take My Breath Away" along with co-writer Damon Bartlett and two other songs "More Than Friends" and "Malo Ya llego" co-written with Arcelio Garcia. Martin Cantu also has several songs featured on the 1998 album, Rocks The Rockies, a live Malo concert recording, recorded in Pueblo Colorado. Since leaving Malo in 1998, Martin Cantu, now an ordained minister who pastors a Christian based church in the San Francisco Bay Area called Praise Worship Center who still tours intensely as a music evangelist as well with his Latin/Pop Gospel band “L-Rey” pronounced “El Rey”. Martin Cantu and L-Rey released a gospel rendition of Malo's hit song "Suavecito" now a gospel hymn titled "Jesucristo".[3]

In March of 2017 original Malo founding member, Richard Bean, former Malo member, Tony Menjivar along with many former long-time MALO members who are recognized as Original Kings of Latin Rock, assembled together former MALO member veterans to create a distinct super group to carry on the Malo music legacy.

The current licensed and legitimate MALO band is led by Richard Bean and Tony Menjivar who are some of the original writers, composers, singers and artists who brought forth an ingenious part of the Malo musical journey. The group perform hits from their 1972 debut self-titled wax album project, "MALO" that produced the all-time MALO Classic, "Suavecito" through "MALO Dos" (1972), "Señorita" (1996), "Latin Legends Live, " (1997) and, "MALO En Vivo" (2005).

Richard Bean wrote the all-time classic hit song, SUAVECITO which is the only song for MALO that charted on Billboard’s top 20 at #18 for 10 weeks since its release in January of 1972.

Discography

Albums
Year Album US Top 200 US R&B
1972 Malo[4] 14 10
Dos 62 13
1973 Evolution 101 39
1974 Ascención 188 -
1981 Malo V - -
1986 Coast to Coast - -
1992 The Best of Malo - -
1995 Señorita - -
1998 Rock the Rockies - -
2004 Malo En Vivo - -

Singles
Date Name US Hot 100 US Billboard AC Canada
1972 "Suavecito" 18 8 14
"Café" - - -
"Latin Bugaloo" - - -
"I'm for Real" - - -
1973 "I Don't Know" - - -
1974 "Love Will Survive" - - -
1981 "Lady I Love" - - -
2004 "Dilo Otra Vez" - - -

References
  1. "wingswest.net - wingswest Resources and Information". Wingswest.net. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  2. "Redirecting". Serious-oldies.blogspot.com. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  3. "Jesus Cristo Martin Cantu and LRey former lead singer of Malo". YouTube. 2008-09-20. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  4. "Searching for "Arcelio Garcia Jr."". Discogs.com. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
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