It’s a matter of time. 50 years to be exact. And in that time Los Lobos have created an unprecedented body of work, a legacy of greatness. The numbers are staggering: 100+ gigs a year for five decades running, crossing millions of miles to rock millions of fans. And that’s just at the live shows. In between they’ve recorded 17 studio albums, 7 live LPs, 3 compilations, 2 EPs, 2 DVDs, and contributed 40+ guest appearances on their friends’ recordings—all garnering 4 Grammys, an Austin City Limits Hall of Fame induction, the ALMA Ritchie Valens Pioneer Award, NEA and Hispanic Heritage Foundation Honors, Congressional recognitions, plus countless “Keys to the City” and “Los Lobos Day” celebrations. And those are just a few of the highlights. But beyond all the hoopla and applause (and the source of it all, really) is the tremendous heart. Rather, hearts. Cinco corazones. Five blood brothers who have dedicated their off-stage time to helping others, working for peace and justice, penning some of the most literate and important music of their time, transforming the hard cries from the East L.A. barrio into songs of hope, tales of common folk finding ways to endure. The young wolves were weaned on late-night radio’s soul, R&B, and doo-wop. Were cured through the African-American currents of the blues, jazz, and rock ‘n’ roll. An amalgam. As proud Chicanos, their songs have always glistened with the distillation from their Mexican and Latin American roots—nourished by Norteña and rancheras, buoyed by bolero and cumbias, soaring on the rhythms of son huasteco and son jarocho. Los Lobos have helped spread the rich diversity of cultures across every continent, throughout the global community. Kids in Antwerp now know about Aztlán. Residents of Luxor and Ghana are crooning Lalo Guerrero. People from Laos and Bulgaria are belting “La Bamba”—all thanks to The Wolves as cultural ambassadors. Talk about a living legacy. Talk about a productive half century. And in the true rebel spirit, they did it all on their own terms, against formula. For the ages. To our delight. Quite simply, they are one of the tightest, one of the best, one of the most prolific bands ever. And, amazingly, with the original founding members as the pack the entire time. Unprecedented. As their liner notes put it, quite simply: “Los Lobos still are David Hidalgo, Louie Pérez, Jr., Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano, Steve Berlin.”
Los Lonely Boys
For Los Lonely Boys—brothers Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza—family has always been at the core of their music and lives. After years of constant touring, the trio took a much-needed break in 2019 to focus on their growing families. But in Summer 2022, they returned to the road reinvigorated, even opening for The Who, and reigniting the passion that’s kept them together for over 17 years. Hailing from San Angelo, Texas, the Garza brothers coined their own sound—bluesy “Texican rock & roll”—and turned it into a global sensation. Their breakout came when Willie Nelson’s nephew discovered their demo. Willie soon championed the group, booking them for Farm Aid and recording with them at his studio. Their debut album, Los Lonely Boys, released in 2003 and re-released by Epic, was a smash success, thanks to the No. 1 hit “Heaven.” The song earned them a Grammy and helped the album spend over 76 weeks on the Billboard Top 200, selling over 2 million copies. They’ve collaborated with legends like Carlos Santana and Willie Nelson, performed at iconic venues, and appeared on campaigns for global causes. Their story was also captured in the documentary Cottonfields and Crossroads, chronicling their rise from a musical family in Texas to Grammy-winning artists. But their journey hasn’t been without hardship. In 2013, a serious stage accident left Henry injured, forcing the band to cancel dozens of shows and re-evaluate their priorities. That scare became a turning point, reinforcing their devotion to one another and to what truly matters—family and music. Now firmly back in stride, Los Lonely Boys continue to write, record, and perform with renewed passion. Their time away deepened their creativity and strengthened their bond as both musicians and brothers. In 2024, they released Resurrection through BMG—a powerful return that captures their signature “Texican rock & roll” sound while uniquely blending elements of soul, roots, and rock & roll. With Resurrection earning critical praise and their live shows drawing enthusiastic crowds, Los Lonely Boys are not just back—they’re thriving. More than two decades after their debut, they remain a vital force in music, proving that their story is still unfolding.
