Malo is one of the most successful and
enduring Latin rock bands in the world. In 2003, they're celebrating
their 31st anniversary. Their biggest hit, "Suavecito" reached number 18 on the Billboard
charts in April of 1972. They've played all over the world
and have performed on the bill with the Rolling Stones and
Queen. Malo has at least ten albums to their credit and continue
to tour. In 1997, along with Tierra and El Chicano, they recorded
a live album called "Latin Legends Live." The three bands have
toured extensively since as "Latin Legends."
To get the story of Malo, it begins with
lead singer Arcelio Garcia. Arcelio was born in Puerto Rico
and moved to San Francisco with his family when he was three
years old. When he was a teenager, some friends of his had
a singing group and asked him to sing with them because their
baritone had gone into the army. Arcelio didn't know if he
could sing, but said he'd give it a shot. He found that he
liked it and started to learn from his more experienced friends.
One day a car drove by while Arcelio was singing on the sidewalk
with his group. The driver told Arcelio he liked his voice
and asked him if he would join his band. Arcelio checked it
out and joined the band called the Malibus, named after the
sporty Chevrolet. They went on to become a very well known and
popular band in the Bay area in the mid-sixties. At first they
played mainly r&b, but later started to add Latin music to
the mix. Three or four years into the career of the Malibus,
a guitarist was brought in by the name of Jorge Santana, the
brother of the already famous Carlos Santana.
In 1970 the Malibus changed their name
to Malo and things started happening. By 1971, they were signed
to Warner Brothers Records and recorded their first album,
which was simply entitled "Malo" (BS-2584).
Arcelio co-wrote four of the six songs, including their classics "Nena" and "Cafe." Released
in 1972, "Malo" also included "Suavecito," which had evolved
from a song they had written and been doing in clubs called "My
Love." One of the band members at the time, Richard Bean, wrote
a new lyric which gave birth to a major hit record. Malo members
Pablo Tellez and Abel Zarate also got credit for the composition. "Suavecito" led
to world tours and laid the groundwork for their career of three
decades so far. The members on the first album were: Arcelio
Garcia, lead vocals; Jorge Santana, lead guitar; Abel Zarate,
lead guitar, vocals; Pablo Tellez, bass; Richard Spremich, drums;
Richard Kermode, keyboards; Luis Gasca, trumpet, flugelhorn,
vocals; and Roy Murray, 2nd trumpet, trombone, flute and sax.
Guest musicians included Coke Escovedo, timbales; Victor Pantoja,
congas; and Richard Bean, timbales and lead vocal on "Suavecito." Malo
has always had a "melting pot" of an ethnic mix, with Chicanos,
Anglos, and people of Puerto Rican, Nicaraguan, and Philippino
descent.
Later in 1972, Warner Brothers released
Malo's second album, "Dos" (BS
2652), followed by "Evolution" (BS 2702) in 1973. In 1974, Arcelio
was incorrectly diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. It turned
out to be yellow jaundice, but he was unable to sing for a year.
This was the period when Little Willie G., formerly of Thee Midniters
of East L.A., came in and became lead singer for Malo. Willie
did one album entitled "Ascención" (BS 2769) and toured
with the band. This album was Malo's last with Warner Brothers.
Back in good health, Arcelio, who owns the Malo name and logo,
moved to New York and started a new Malo. This resulted in the
release of Malo V in 1981. Arcelio then came back to the west
coast, where he has been based ever since. In 1986, Malo had
an album called "Coast To Coast" on the Blue Heron label. "Señorita" was
released on GNP Crescendo Records in 1995. In 1997, two live
albums were issued, "Malo Rocks the Rockies," on an independent
label, and "Latin Legends Live," on Thump Records, featuring
Malo, Tierra, and El Chicano.
It was recorded live at The Hop in Puente
Hills and it has sold very well, according to Arcelio. Malo
has gone through many personell changes over the years, but
Arcelio is the one constant. Jorge Santana, played with Malo
for three or four years in the early 70s. Since then he's had
his own bands and has performed often with his brother, Carlos.
He's also had albums out, including 1978's "Jorge Santana" and 1979's "It's All About Love," both
on Tomato Records. In 1994, Jorge was on an album with Carlos
and their nephew, Carlos Hernandez, entitled "The Santana Brothers" on
Island Records. In the last several years Jorge plays often with
Malo. In fact, he just performed with Malo last weekend, on March
29, 2003 at the Star Plaza Theater in Merrillville, Indiana.
Malo's current lineup includes: Arcelio
Garcia, lead vocals; Julian Molina, bass; David George, drums;
Gabriel Manzo, lead guitar; Jay Rossette, 2nd lead guitar;
Daniel Cervantes, keyboards; Frank Bailey, lead trumpet; Pete
Rodriguez, trumpet; Steve Rocha, trombone; Gibby Ross, timbales;
and Tony Menjivar, congas. Another addition to the current
Malo is Arcelio's son, Octaviano, who's an excellent singer
and performer in his own right. He and Arcelio work very well
together. My band, Mark Guerrero & Radio Aztlán,
performed twice on the bill with Malo in 2002. The first time
at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, California and the second
at The Hop in Puente Hills, California. Believe me, the current
Malo is great and can rock the house. Their music ranges from
romantic ballads to high energy Latin grooves. I met Arcelio
at the second concert at The Hop and spoke to him about doing
this article. I'm also on an album with Malo called "The Chicano
Alliance" on Our Town Records (1998), which includes my songs "On
the Boulevard" and "Rosalie" and Malo's "Lady I Love."
Malo has given back to the community by
doing many benefits for schools and other good causes over
the years. They recently raised $35,000 to refurbish public
baseball fields for Latino teams in the bay area. Arcelio is
also proud of the fact that some of Malo's music, including
two songs he co-wrote, "Nena" and "Cafe," are
in college music text books. He jokingly says that was the only
way he was going to get to college. In 1999, longtime Malo members
Gabe Manzo and Tony Menjivar formed a faith based band. Since
Malo means "bad," they named their band, Bueno, which means "good." The
bands Malo and Bueno have a close connection, but are separate
entities and completely different in the mission and purpose
of their music. Arcelio, who became a Christian about three years
ago, occasionally sings with Bueno, but is not a regular member.
Speaking of good, a few years ago, the band Sugar Ray recorded
a hit song called "Every Morning," which used the vocal hook
from "Suavecito." Unlike many other artists, Malo did not have
to go to court to get their share. Everything was handled properly
up front. It turns out, Sugar Ray's lead singer, Mark McGrath,
had seen Malo play at a car show when he was a kid. McGrath was
taken to the show by his father, who was as big Malo fan and
loved the song "Suavecito."
Malo has some reissue collections available. GNP Crescendo Records
released "The
Best of Malo" (GNPD 2205) in 1991 and Rhino Records issued a boxed set called "Celebración!," which
includes Malo's first four albums. Also, Malo's 1995 CD on GNP Crescendo Records, "Señorita," (GNPD
2244) is still available on the net at: www.gnpcrescendo.com. As for the future,
Malo will be back in the studio in two weeks to record a brand new album on
Arcelio's new label, Olam, which is Malo backwards. They're also doing a dvd
with VH1, which will include clips of various television appearances Malo did
in the early 70s such as, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, Dick Clark's American
Bandstand, and "The Midnight Special." VH1's cameras will also follow Malo
around on tour for the dvd.
This article is based on an audiotaped telephone interview by
Mark Guerrero with Arcelio Garcia on March 28, 2003.
