La Sombra Explained

La Sombra
Background:	group_or_band
Alias:	La Sombra de Tony GuerreroLa Sombra de Chicago
Origin:	Aurora, Illinois, United States
Genre:	Tejano/Tex-Mex, cumbia, hip hop, rock, soul
Years Active:	1970s–1990s, 2008, Present
Label:	International Recording Company/IRC (1977-1981), Freddie Records (1984-1990), Fonovisa Records (1991-1994), EMI Latin (1995-1997)
Associated Acts:	La Mafia, Fandango U.S.A, La Rebeldia, Selena, Johnny Canales, Oasis de Chicago, Cruz Martínez

La Sombra, also known as La Sombra de Tony Guerrero and previously known as La Sombra de Chicago, is a Tejano band founded by Antonio "Tony" Guerrero Jr.^[1] Originally from the Chicago suburb of Aurora, Illinois, the group gained national acclaim and success after moving to Corpus Christi, Texas and signing with Freddie Records.

La Sombra released over twenty full-length studio albums featuring songs in both Spanish and English. Following numerous line-up changes, the group disbanded in 1995, briefly reuniting in 2008 for a number of live shows.

La Sombra has been credited with influencing the Tejano music fields in terms of musical style, dress, and concert performances as well as a generation of newer artists.

Select discography

Studio albums

• Mi Guerita Coca-Cola (1984)
• Where's The Beef? (1984)
• No Hay Derecho (1984)
• Eres Tu Muchachita (1985)
• Sombra Love (1985)
• Botoncito De Cariño (1985)
• All I Could Do Was Cry (1986)
• From The Streets Of Chicago (1987)
• La Sombra Introduces La Rebeldia (1987)
• Strikes Again (1988)
• Chicago's Wild Side (1988)
• One Of A Kind (1988)
• The Chi-Town Boys R Back (1989)
• Good Boys Wear White (1990)
• Porque Te Quiero (1991)
• Intocable (1992)
• Ilusiones (1993)
• Caliente Dulce Amor (1994)
• Mas Que Todo (1995)
• Alborotados (1997)
• Todo Me Recuerda A Ti (1999)

Compilations

• Come Together (1985)
• Double Shot (1988)
• Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (1990)
• Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1991)
• Awesome (1991)
• The Greatest Show On Earth (1991)
• Lo Mejor (1993)
• 10th Anniversary (1994)
• Our Very Best (1995)
• Las Mejores Cumbias (1995)
• 30 Greatest Hits (1997)
• 30 Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (2000)
• In Concert (2001)
• 30 Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (2002)
• The Original Recordings (2004)
• Mano A Mano (2004)
• 20 Exitos De Recuerdo (2005)
• The Original Recordings 2 (2005)
• Anthology (2007)
• Battle of The 80s (2008)

Band members

• Antonio "Tony" Guerrero Jr. - lead vocals, background vocals, accordion
• Cruz Guerrero - keyboards, background vocals
• Lorenzo "Chencho" Benavides - lead vocals (1977- 1981)
• Jesse Huerta - drums, background vocals (1977-1995)
• Jose "Pepper" Gonzales - guitar (1978-1993)
• Harvey Gonzales - bass guitar, background vocals (1978-1995)
• Gavino Guerrero - lead vocals, background vocals, trumpet (1979-1994)
• Rene Limas - keyboards (1984-1987)
• Frankie Treviño - guitar (1985-1987)
• Albert "Tiger" Diaz - trumpet, saxophone, background vocals (1985-1989)
• Alex "Chuco" Gutierrez - keyboards, vocals (1986)
• Ceaser Mojica - keyboards, vocals (1988)
• Alex "Pretty Boy" Ramirez - keyboards, accordion (1989-1995)
• Jesse Colon - trumpet (1981-1984)
• Cruz Martínez - keyboard (1989-1996)
• Joel Garza - drums (1994-1995)
• Bobby Rios - bass guitar and vocals (1996-)
• Joe Eric Griego - drums (1997)
• Rene Ximenez - drums (1999, 2000, 2009, 2010)
• Ray Talamantez Jr. - trumpet, saxophone, vocals
• Rogelio Zavala Jr. - Keyboards, vocals
• Adam Vargas - guitar
• Andrew Maes - background vocals
• Roland Gutierrez - keyboards

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
1985	Tejano Music Awards<	-- March 10, 1985 -->	Most Promising Band of the Year	La Sombra	^[2]
1990	Tejano Music Awards<	-- March 9, 1990 -->	Single of the Year	"El Sapo"	^[3]
1991	Tejano Music Awards<	-- March 1, 1991 -->	Album of the Year – Orchestra	Good Boys	^[4]
		Song of the Year	"El Sapo"	rowspan="1"
		Single of the Year	"A Donde Vas" "El Sapo"	rowspan="1"
1992	Grammy Awards<	-- February 25, 1999 -->	Best Mexican-American Album	Porque Te Quiero	^[5]
	Premio Lo Nuestro<	-- May 14, 1992 -->	Regional Mexican Group of the Year	La Sombra	^[6]
2017	Tejano Roots Hall of Fame<		-- January 7, 2017 -->	Tony Guerrero	^[7]
	Tejano Music Awards<	-- October 21, 2017 -->	Male Vocalist of the Year		^[8]
		Song of the Year	"Mi Cumbia"
		Album of the Year – Tejano	Look Who's Back

External links

• La Sombra at AllMusic
• La Sombra at Discogs

Notes and References

1. Web site: Blankenship . Bill . Music acts flavor Fiesta's closing nights . The Topeka Capital-Journal . 20 January 2024.
2. Web site: Past Tejano Music Awards Winners 1981 to Present . Tejano Music Awards .
3. News: Flores Jr. Adolfo. Tejano Music Celebrates in Awards Show. 27 April 2016. Del Rio News Herald. December 9, 1990.
4. News: 1991 Tejano Music Award Finalists. 27 April 2016. Colorado Springs Hispania News. February 21, 1991.
5. Web site: La Sombra Artist GRAMMY.com . Grammy .
6. March 28, 1992. Ana Gabriel leads nominees for Latin Music Awards. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 104. 13.
7. Web site: Tejano R.O.O.T.S Hall of Fame inducts over 80 individuals into 2016 class . Medina . John Henry . January 10, 2017 . Tejano Nation .
8. Web site: Top 5 Nominees Announced for 37th Tejano Music Awards . Medina . John Henry . October 5, 2017 . Tejano Nation .