Trio Los Panchos

by Craig HarrisThe dance music of Latin America has been introduced to the global stage by Trio Los Panchos. Best-known for their interpretation of the Cuban bolero, the group performs a pan-Latin repertoire that includes Argentinean tangos and Colombian Cumbias.Formed in 1944 by lead singer Hernando Aviles, background vocalist Chucho Navarro, and requinto (small guitar) player Alfredo Gil, the trio has gone through numerous personnel changes. Aviles was replaced by Raul Shaw Moreno in 1951, with Moreno replaced by Julio Rodriguez Reyes the following year. With Aviles return in 1956, the original trio was reunited until 1958, when Aviles was replaced by Johnny Albino. After a decade with the group, Albino was replaced by Enrique Caceres. Four years later, Caceres was replaced by Ovidio Hernandez, who remained with the group until 1981, when he was replaced by Rafael Basurto Lara.Announcing Gils retirement during a television special in Venezuela in 1981, Los Trio Panchos disbanded. This proved to be premature when Navarro and Lara reunited, a few months later, and continued to perform with a lengthy list of guitarists, including Willy Fonseca, Lalo Ayala, Jose Luis Sanchez Camacho, and Gabriel Vargas. Following Navarros death in 1993, Lara has continued as a soloist.In addition to albums recorded on their own, Trio Los Panchos collaborated with vocalist Maria Martha Serra Lima and with the Mexican group Tres Reyes.