Los Ángeles Azules
Biography
Los Ángeles Azules is a Mexican cumbia sonidera group formed in the Iztapalapa borough of Mexico City in 1976 by the Mejía Avante siblings. The group officially began its activity in 1980. Their music is characterized by a blend of cumbia from the 1950s and 1970s with 1990s electronic music, creating a unique style that has made them leaders of the genre.
Career Highlights
The band's breakthrough came in 1996 with the album "Inolvidables," which featured the hit single "Cómo Te Voy a Olvidar". This song propelled them to international fame, achieving platinum status in Argentina. In the 21st century, Los Ángeles Azules solidified their status as cumbia royalty, touring extensively and selling out venues. A pivotal moment in their career was the 2013 release of the album "Cómo Te Voy a Olvidar," where they re-recorded their hits with guest vocalists such as Carla Morrison, Lila Downs, and Ximena Sariñana. This album was commercially successful and marked a revitalization of their career.
In 2018, they made history as the first traditional cumbia group to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. They are also the first Mexican group to join YouTube's "Billion Views Club," with two of their music videos surpassing one billion views: "Nunca es suficiente" featuring Natalia Lafourcade and "Mis sentimientos" featuring Ximena Sariñana.
Musical Style and Innovations
Los Ángeles Azules are pioneers of the "cumbia sonidera" genre, which incorporates the accordion and synthesizers. In 2014, they introduced a new genre called "cumbia sinfónica" by performing their greatest hits with the Mexico City Symphony Orchestra. This fusion of cumbia with symphonic arrangements proved to be highly successful and led to the album "Cómo Te Voy a Olvidar Edición de Súper Lujo".
Collaborations and Recent Work
Throughout their career, Los Ángeles Azules have collaborated with a wide array of artists from different genres, which has helped them to reach new audiences. Some notable collaborations include songs with Natalia Lafourcade, Gloria Trevi, Miguel Bosé, Fito Paéz, and Ha*Ash. Their 2018 album "Esto Sí Es Cumbia" consisted entirely of covers featuring prominent artists. More recent albums like "De Buenos Aires Para el Mundo" and "Cumbia del Corazón" have also featured numerous collaborations and have received Latin Grammy nominations.
Awards and Recognition
Los Ángeles Azules have received numerous accolades throughout their career. They have been nominated for Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards. In 2023, they received Billboard's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2024, the Latin Recording Academy announced that the group would be honored with the Musical Excellence Award at the Latin Grammys.