Los Gatos Salvajes, from
Rosario, Santa Fe
Rosario () is the largest city in the central Argentine province of Santa Fe. The city is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the west bank of the Paraná River. Rosario is the third-most populous city in the country, and is also the most p ...
in
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
, were a
beat and
garage rock
Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock and roll that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The sty ...
band active in the early to mid-1960s, following which members Litto Nebbia and Ciro Fogliatta would go on to form the later, more successful group,
Los Gatos
Los Gatos (, ; ) is an List of municipalities in California, incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population is 33,529 according to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is located in the San Franci ...
.
They were one of Argentina's first teenage rock & roll bands, and part of the popular worldwide beat movement inspired by the success of the Beatles and the British Invasion.
[ They enjoyed only limited record sales, despite some degree of success in their television appearances, but are recognised as a pioneering group in Argentina.][
]
History
The band was founded in 1962 by keyboardist Ciro Fogliatta. He was joined by Rubén Rojas on vocals, Juan Carlos "Chango" Pueblas on guitar, and Ricardo Bellini on drums. In 1963 Guillermo Romero would join on bass, and Jose "Tito" Adjaiye would replace Bellini.[ The original name of the band was The Wild Cats and they were influenced by ]The Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...
, and The Yardbirds
The Yardbirds are an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band's core lineup featured vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist and later bassist Chris Dreja and bassist/producer Paul Samwell ...
. Rubén Rojas was replaced by singer Litto Nebbia, who also played harmonica.[ At Nebbia's request they translated their name into Spanish and became Los Gatos Salvajes, and began performing songs in their native language.][ In 1963 they would release their first single "Oye niña"/"Calculadora".
As their popularity increased, Los Gatos Salvajes eventually re-located to Buenos Aires, and made a strong impression through a series of television appearances through which they were able to appeal to young rock fans in the metropolis.][ Sales for the album were disappointing due to poor promotion by the label, which was financially struggling.][ The album sold less than a thousand copies before the company went broke.][
Less than a year after it was released, Adjaiye, Pueblas and Romero decided it was time to return home to Rosario and the group broke up.][ Nebbia and Fogliatta stayed in Buenos Aires and assembled a new group, Los Gatos, which would enjoy greater commercial success, selling 200,000 copies of their debut single " La balsa." Los Gatos would come to be recognised as founders in the Argentine National Rock movement.
In 2007, a compilation, Los Gatos Salvajes: Complete Recordings, was released in the United States by No Fun Productions.][
]
Personnel
1962
*Rubén Rojas (vocals)
*Ciro Fogliatta (keyboards)
*Juan Carlos "Chango" Pueblas (guitar)
*Richard Bellini (drums)
1963
*Rubén Rojas (vocals)
*Ciro Fogliatta (keyboards)
*Juan Carlos "Chango" Pueblas (guitar)
*Guiermo Romero (bass)
*Jose “Tito” Adjaiye (drums)
1964-1966
*Litto Nebbia (vocals, harmonica)
*Ciro Fogliatta (keyboards)
*Juan Carlos "Chango" Pueblas (guitar)
*Guiermo Romero (bass)
*Jose “Tito” Adjaiye (drums)
Discography
Albums
Studio
*''Los Gatos Salvajes'' (Music Hall, 1965)
Compilations
*''Bajo la rambla'' (1994)
*''Los Gatos Salvajes'' (reedición), (200
Singles
*"Donde vas", 1965
References
{{Reflist
Argentine pop music groups
Argentine rock music groups
Garage rock groups
Musical groups disestablished in 1967