Chalino Sanchez

Rosalino Sánchez Félix, better known as Chalino Sanchez, was a pivotal figure in Mexican music, renowned as a pioneering narcocorrido singer-songwriter. He was born on August 30th, 1960 in Rancho Las Flechas, Sinaloa. He took an interest in the narrative capabilities of music at an early age, composing songs with captivating stories. After his brother Armando was murdered in 1984, Chalino Sanchez composed his first corrido, "Recordando a Armando Sánchez." He recorded his first demo cassette with the norteño group Los Cuatro de la Frontera, which included songs such as "El Sapo" and "Los Sinaloenses." He showcased his music across California, playing at various events ranging from nightclub shows to private gatherings. During this era, Chalino Sanchez recorded with multiple labels such as Discos Linda and Musart, releasing albums like Que Me Entierren Cantando (1988) and A Todo Sinaloa (1989). Additionally, he created the group Los Amables del Norte, performing with them on numerous occasions. By the start of the 1990s, Chalino Sanchez had earned the nickname "Rey de Los Corridos" (King of the Corridos), consolidating his fame with the release of the 1991 album Alma Enamorada, whose title track would eventually become a classic of the genre. However, a life-altering incident occurred in January 1992, when Eduardo Gallegos assaulted him during a performance at the Plaza Los Arcos, inciting a gunfight. The event, widely reported by various news outlets, unexpectedly boosted Chalino Sanchez's music sales and airplay. Even though he survived the incident, he was found dead on May 16, 1992, near the neighborhood of Los Laureles, Culiacán. A few months later, the posthumous compilation Adios Chalino was released in his memory.