Chico Che y la Crisis

Chico Che y la Crisis was the Mexican tropical group founded in 1968 by Tabasco singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Chico Che (Francisco José Hernández Mandujano), after he moved from early rock-and-ballad work (Los Temerarios) into cumbia with Los Bárbaros and then formed his own band to record original material. The first lineup around him included Nacho Mandujano (electric bass), Pedro Díaz “Machorrito” (congas/tumbadoras), Antonio Hernández Carrera “El Negro” (drums), and Miguel Ángel Sánchez “Cochinita” (guitar); the band later added key color players such as Eugenio Flores (saxophone), Abel González “El Bayo” (requinto), and bassist Pedro Bolón Pozo as the sound expanded. Starting with early singles like “Derrumbaron el Puente,” “La Espinita,” and “Paraíso,” Chico Che y la Crisis developed a signature that fused cumbia and merengue with rock-and-roll arrangements, heavy sax lines, and comedic catchphrases that turned into mass hooks. Through the 1970s and 1980s they released an unusually dense run of LPs (often credited at more than 40) and scored enduring hits including “De Quen Chon” and “Quen Pompó,” alongside topical songs tied to major Mexican news moments of the 1980s. Their popularity carried beyond records into film, with the group appearing in five Mexican movies during the peak years, while their live reputation centered on a highly recognizable stage image and party-ready medleys. After Chico Che died from a stroke in 1989, the project ended as an active band, but the catalog continued circulating through compilations, streaming reissues, and anniversary live releases.