Los Panchos, originally known as Trio Los Panchos, are a trío romántico formed in New York City in 1944 by Mexican musicians Alfredo Gil and Chucho Navarro, and Puerto Rican musician Hernando Avilés. The trio became one of the leading exporters of the bolero and the romantic ballad in Latin America.

The group sold hundreds of millions of records since its creation in the mid 1940s, some of their best known songs being their interpretations of classic folk songs such as "Besame Mucho", "Sabor a Mí", "Sin Ti", "Solamente Una Vez", "Contigo", "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas", "Contigo Aprendi", "Aquellos Ojos Verdes", "Cuando vuelva a tu lado", "Se te olvida", "El Reloj", "Noche de Ronda", "Rayito de Luna". Backing Eydie Gormé in 1964, the trio enjoyed US chart success with the album Amor (Great Love Songs in Spanish), followed by three more albums together.

Los Panchos are regarded as one of the top musical trios of all time and one of the most influential Latin American artists of all time. They sold out concerts around the globe for over 70 years and have appeared in more than 50 films.

A characteristic instrument of Los Panchos and other Mexican tríos románticos since the 1950s is the requinto guitar, which is smaller and tuned higher than a standard guitar. Requinto solos are found in many bolero recordings by Los Panchos.

History 1944–1952: Formation and early years Los Panchos first met in 1944 in New York City.Latin Music - Musicians, Genres and Themes, Stavans, Ilan - Editor In Chief, Greenwood, Oxford, England, 2014, p. 798-799 Latin Music - Musicians, Genres and Themes, Stavans, Ilan - Editor, "Trio Los Panchos" on books.google.com The three original members were Chucho Navarro, and Alfredo Gil, both from Mexico, and Hernando Avilés from Puerto Rico. All three played guitar and contributed vocally.Encyclopedia of Latin American Popular Music, Torres, George - Editor. Greenwood, Oxford, England 2013, p. 44-45, 415 "Encyclopedia of Latin American Popular Music", Torres, George - Editor, "Trio Los Panchos" on books.google.com

Los Panchos reached fame with their romantic songs, especially in Latin America where they are still regarded as one of the top trios of all time. They sold millions of records in Latin America and other countries. In the 1940s they collaborated with Alfredo Antonini's Viva America Orchestra with the orchestral accordionist John Serry Sr. in a recording of "La Palma" (a cueca) and "Rosa Negra" (a conga) for Pilotone Records (#45 5067, #45 5069).La Palma; Rosa Negra - Vocalists Los Panchos Trio and the Viva America Orchestra - Conductor Alfredo Antonini They also appeared in around 50 movies, mostly during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.

By 1946, the trio's exceptional virtuosity and authenticity had attracted the attention of Edmund Chester at CBS Radio's La Cadena de las Americas (Network of the Americas).Photograph of Los Panchos Trio with Manolita Arriola on "Viva America" for CBS Radio in 1946 onn Getty imagesBeyond the Black and White TV: Asian and Latin American Spectacle in Cold War America. Han, Benjamin M. Rutgers University Press, 2022 La Cadena de las Americas, Edmund Chester, William S. Paley and the Carlos Manuel De Cespedes National Order of Merit on Google Books Los Panchos were immediately invited to perform as "musical ambassadors" on the network's Viva América program to support cultural diplomacy in twenty countries throughout Latin America and South America.Beyond the Black and White TV: Asian and Latin American Spectacle in Cold War America. Han, Benjamin M. Rutgers University Press, 2022 La Cadena de las Americas, Edmund Chester, William S. Paley and the Carlos Manuel De Cespedes National Order of Merit on Google BooksAgustin Lara: A Cultural Biography. Wood, Andrew grant. Oxford university Press 2014 p. 158 ISBN 9780199892464 Los Panchos Trio and Viva America on Google BookTime - Radio: La Cadena, June 1, 1942 William S. Paley, La Cadena de las Americas on Content.time.com

Los Panchos began touring internationally in 1946 and would relocate later that same year to Mexico City. They were welcomed with open arms and XEW-AM, the most popular radio station in Mexico City, reserved a time slot for their music.Musical Ritual in Mexico City - From the Aztec to NAFTA Pedelty, Mark. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas 2004, "Music Ritual in Mexico City - From the Aztec to NAFTA" Pedelty, Mark, University of Texas Press, "Trio Los Panchos" on books.google.com In 1951, Los Panchos launched another international tour across Latin America. Julio Rodríguez joined the group in 1952.

1958–1968: The Albino era and collaboration with Eydie Gormé In 1958, Rodríguez was replaced by Johnny Albino. In 1964, CBS proposed to the members of the trio, then made up of the two founding members and Johnny Albino, to accompany a female voice for the first time, the American vocalist of Judeo-Spanish descent Eydie Gormé, who had several years of recording experience in the United States and who was just beginning to record in Spanish. The collaboration between Gormé and Los Panchos resulted in a series of bestselling albums in the 1960s, such as Great Love Songs In Spanish (titled Amor, in Spanish).Music of Latin America and the Caribbean. Brill, Mark. Routledge, New York, NY 2016, "Music of Latin America and the Caribbean". Brill, Mark. Routledge, New York, 2016 Chapter 3 - Mexico - "Los Panchos Trio" on books.google.com The Albino era was one of the most prosperous ones for Los Panchos, and classic albums from that time are still very popular among Los Panchos fans. His departure in 1968 was a tumultuous one, as he did not leave on good terms with the group's management.

1971–1993: Transition and the Final Founders In 1971, Ovidio Hernández joined the band as lead vocalist, a part he would fulfill until his untimely passing from complications of meningitis in 1976. Following him, Rafael Basurto Lara joined as lead singer.

Alfredo Gil played with Los Panchos until his retirement in 1981; he died in 1999. Chucho Navarro played with the group until his death in 1993.

1994–present: Legacy and Chucho Navarro Jr. Currently the trio using the Los Panchos name is the Trio Los Panchos de Chucho Navarro Fundador ("Trio Los Panchos of Founder Chucho Navarro") under the direction of Chucho Navarro Jr., the son of original Los Panchos member Chucho Navarro.

As of 2025 and 2026, the trio remains active with new members and special performances for the Mexican senior citizen population.

Discography

Albums 1945 – Mexicantos 1949 – Ritmos tropicales 1949 – Boleros selectos, Vol. 1 1950 – Los Panchos Favorites 1955 – Boleros selectos, Vol. 2 1955 – Así cantan Los Panchos 1956 – Canciones para una noche de lluvia 1956 – Vaya con Dios 1956 – Canciones del corazón 1956 – South Of The Border – Agustín Lara Hits 1956 – Mexican Holiday 1957 – Serenade (Tico LP-1034) 1957 – Eva Garza 1958 – Un minuto de amor 1959 – Trío Los Panchos y Chucho Martínez Gil 1959 – Siete notas de amor 1960 – Los Panchos con Johnny Albino cantan 1960 – Canciones del corazón 1960 – Los favoritos de todo el mundo 1960 – Los Panchos en Tokyo 1961 – Ciudadanos del mundo 1961 – Ambassadors of Song 1961 – Ceguera de amor 1961 – Los Panchos en Japón 1962 – Época de oro 1962 – Los Panchos cantan tangos 1962 – El Trío Los Panchos interpreta Guty Cárdenas 1962 – México canta 1962 – Favoritos latinos 1963 – A mi madrecita 1963 – Cantan a Paraguay 1963 – Love Songs of the Tropics – Trio Los Panchos Sing the Songs of Rafael Hernández Marín 1963 – Romantic Guitars – El Trio Los Panchos Y Las Canciones De Pedro Flores 1964 – By Special Request Sing Great Love Songs In English 1964 – Caminemos 1964 – Amor (Great Love Songs In Spanish) (with Eydie Gormé) 1964 – Los Panchos en el Japón 1964 – Recuerdos... 1965 – More Amor / Cuatro vidas (with Eydie Gormé) 1965 – El pescador de estrellas 1965 – Los Panchos en persona 1965 – Horas nuestras 1966 – Que no te cuenten cuentos 1966 – Blanca Navidad / Navidad Means Christmas (with Eydie Gormé) 1967 – Los Panchos en estéreo, Vol. 1 1967 – Con éxitos de Armando Manzanero 1967 – En Venezuela 1967 – Hey, Amigo! The Trío Los Panchos Sing Great Popular Country Hits in Spanish (with The Jordanaires) 1968 – Los Panchos en estéreo, Vol. 2 1968 – Gigliola Cinquetti e il Trio Los Panchos in Messico 1968 – Con mariachi 1970 – Liliana 1970 – Los Panchos En Japón, Vol. 2 1970 – Los Panchos Cantan a Agustín Lara 1970 – Trío Los Panchos 1971 – Voces internacionales con Los Panchos 1971 – Basura 1972 – Lo dudo 1972 – Frío en el alma 1972 – Quiero 1972 – Cantan al Perú 1972 – Adulterio 1972 – La hiedra 1973 – El tiempo que te quede libre 1973 – Tú me acostumbraste (with Estela Raval) 1974 – Gil, Navarro y Hernández 1976 – Cantan a Latinoamérica 1977 – Si tú me dices ven (Lodo) 1981 – España en la voz de Los Panchos 1982 – Los Panchos en Brasil 1985 – Homenaje a Carlos Gardel 1989 – Esencia romántica 1991 – Siglo veinte 1991 – Hoy

Singles

1946 – "La Palma" (Trio Los Panchos and the Viva América Orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini with John Serry Sr.) 1962 – "El pecador" 1965 – "Obsesión" 1966 – "Celoso" 1971 – "Volví la espalda" 1971 – "Háblame" 1972 – "Martha" (with Estela Raval) 1974 – "Yo lo comprendo" 1976 – "Sabor a mí" 1985 – "La nave del olvido" 1991 – "Triunfamos"

References

External links Official blog of Trio Los Panchos de Chucho Navarro Fundador