"Three Man and only one subject II"

The other signature of Trio Los Panchos was their use of the Cuban bolero, a slow, sentimental song that is similar in character to the standard American Jazz ballad. The Spanish bolero, in triple time, was popular in Europe in the years surrounding th turn of the century. The distintly different Cuban bolero, built on syncopated rhythms in duple time, was popular throughout Latin America during the 19th century. This Cuban variety had been a repertoire staple of Mexican and Central American marimba bands long before Trio Los Panchos put it on stage in New York. But it was their fresh, sweet deliveries that brought the Cuban bolero to international popularity.

Trio Los Panchos was founded in 1944. Prior to that time, Chucho Navarro, a Mexican baritone, songwriter and guitarist, was working with countryman Alfredo Gil, a singer and guitarrist. The two were doing well in New York City's thriving Latin music scene when they met Cuban tenor Hernando Aviles. The three men got together, defined their style and worked together from 1944 to 1951 as Trio Los Panchos. Navarro and Gil remained members of the group until Gil's retirement, for health reasons, in 1981. The role of lead singer was taken over by Raul Shaw Moreno from 1951 to 1952, Julio Rodriguez Reyes from 1952 to1956. Hernando Aviles returned to the group from 1956 to 1958, replaced by Johnny Albino from 1958 to 1968. Enrique Caceres from 1968 to 1972, and Ovidio Hernandez from 1972 to 1976. After the death of Hernandez in 1976, Rafael Basurto Lara joined the group.

Requinto player Alfredo Gil retired from the group in 1981; he passed away in 1999. Chucho Navarro announced his retirement in 1981 as well, bue it was not long before he and Rafael Basurto Lara began performing as a duo, under the name Los Panchos. The duo worked with a number of requinto players over the next 12 years, including Willy Fonceca, Lalo Ayala, Jose Luis Sanchez Camacho and Gabriel Vargas. But they felt they could never really replace Gil. In tribute to him they remained a duo until Navarro's death in 1993. Rafael Basurto Lara continues to perform, as "The Last Voice of Los Panchos"

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!