On May 14, 1944, three men, two of them mexican and one
of them Cuban, took the stage of the Hispanic Theater in New York City. They called themselves "Trio Los Panchos", taking their name from the famous Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. The gentle sound of the ensemble's voices and guitars ushered in a remarkable era of Mexican trio popularity. Over the next 37 years the Trio would produce some 2,500 songs,finding an audience for their music throughout the world. The artists' popularity, and the American interest in Latin sounds, prompted a flood of competing groups including Los Tres Ases, Los Tres Caballeros and Los Tres Reyes, the group that was featured on the 1987 Linda Ronstadt album Canciones de Mi Padre.

Although the golden age of the Mexican trio lasted only from the late 1940s through the mid-1950s, the genre was around long before then, and has remained quite popular since. In fact, the close harmonies and romantic songs, or "musica romantica", of Trio Los Panchos was an updated version of the traditional trio music of central Mexico. Their smooth sound, gentle harmonies and simple tunes gave the genre a new style and a new life. To add to their new sound, the group made use of the "requinto," a small guitar invented by Alfredo Gil, the Trio's third voice. He developed the instrument for use in song introductions and in non-vocal sections of songs. The sound of the "requinto" is similar to that of its guitar cousin, but more pointed and piercing. Gil popularized the instrument, which is now a standard elemen of Mexican folk music.

Biography taken from the Trio Los Panchos song book by Hal Leonard which you can find it at any music store all around the world. Prize in U.S.A $13.95 - Buy it know!