Chalino Sanchez and the narcocorrido

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Chalino Sanchez and the narcocorrido
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Origin of the corrido

• 19th century Mexican folk ballad set to German
  imported Polka music
• Song-stories that recounted popular Mexican
  history
• Mexican Revolution of 1910-1917 considered
  Golden Age of the corrido
• Used as a means for the largely illiterate
  population to follow the progress of the war and
  other current events of the time

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Chalino Sanchez

• Although drug ballads first appeared in the
  1970s, the narcocorrido truly emerged as a
  musical genre with the arrival of Rosalino
  Chalino Sanchez in 1989
• Sanchez adapted the traditional corrido to modern
  themes and musical style

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Chalino Sanchez

• Born August 30,1960 in Sinaloa, Mexico
• At the age of 15, he reportedly shot and killed
  the man who raped his sister
• Moved to Los Angeles in 1977 and worked as an
  undocumented migrant farmer and small time drug
  dealer
• Was involved in brothers immigrant-smuggling
  business until his brothers murder in 1984

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Chalino Sanchez

• Spent several years earning money composing
  corridos for various drug traffickers
• In 1989, he recorded his first album
• By the end of the year, he recorded his third
  album, started a recording company, and was
  performing in local clubs

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Chalino Sanchez

• Chalinos music included stories about drug
  trafficking, murders, and corrupt police, as well
  as the struggles of the working-class Mexicans
• His music gained popularity through word of mouth
  and the cassette decks of car stereos
• On January 20, 1992, he was involved in an
  on-stage shooting incident during one of his
  performances near Palm Springs
• The incident made ABCs World News Tonight, which
  not only gained him attention, but earned his
  music air time on the radio

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Chalino Sanchez

• In May 1992, Chalino was invited to perform in
  Sinaloa for a relatively large sum of money
• After his concert on the night of May 15, Chalino
  was kidnapped by men claiming to be police
• His body was found the next morning near a canal.
  He had been blindfolded and shot twice in the
  back of the head
• There are many theories on the reasons for his
  death, but his murder has never been solved

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Legacy

• After his death Chalino became a folk hero,
  selling more records than he ever did in life
• His style and gritty lyrics changed Mexican music
  forever and opened doors for new artists of the
  narcocorrido genre

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Final Comments

• Many of the more successful corridistas today are
  commissioned by the Mexican cartel
• For a recent narcocorrido by Los Huracanes del
  Norte, see the following YouTube video
  http//www.youtube.com/watch?v1FQOUu9_eWk