Los Lobos

Their cover of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” put them on the commercial map. But these L.A. rockers are a creative force in their own right and one of the best live bands in rock.

Los Lobos Eligible Since: 2003 Years Nominated: None Why They Deserve It: One of America’s greatest roots rock outfits, Los Lobos built their four-decade career on the seamless blend of rock, blues and country with traditional Spanish and Mexican music. The reworking of “La Bamba” was a No. 1 hit for the band, but Los Lobos’ richest musical accomplishments aren’t measured in album sales. —Jeff Royer

What if your greatest hit was barely a reflection of your body of work? This could be the case for Los Lobos, whose cover of La Bamba was by far their largest hit, but was a poor representation of what this band was really about.

Their cover of Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba" put them on the commercial map. But these L.A. rockers are a creative force in their own right and one of the best live bands in rock

One of America’s greatest roots rock outfits, Los Lobos built their four-decade career on the seamless blend of rock, blues and country with traditional Spanish and Mexican music. The reworking of “La Bamba” was a No. 1 hit for the band, but Los Lobos’ richest musical accomplishments aren’t measured in album sales

Man, every musician and knowledgeable music fan I know understands how great these guys are. Amazing players, deep deep roots across an encyclopedic breadth of styles that defies easy genre classification, fantastic, literate, soulful songwriters with personal yet socially relevant lyrics, their best work fuses a gritty realism with an evocative, dreamlike sense of mystical spiritualism. Kiko remains their masterwork realization of this ethos, a seamless blend of roots rock classicism, psychedelic meditation, and fearless sonic experimentation, but you really can't find a weak spot in their entire catalog. Live, I've never seen them less than completely on fire, and it speaks volumes about their masterful diversity that they can deliver superb versions of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and Cream's "Politician" in the same set. David Hidalgo is perhaps the most underrated rock guitarist in the US, just check any live version of "Mas Y Mas" to hear him leave more conventional guitar he... Read more

These guys are true Rock N Roll legends in their own time. They have had mega rock stars get on stage with them and not so famous musicians do the same. The outcome is always good grassroots rock n roll. They have bridged a gap between cultures to crank out tune after tune. No matter who you are you've heard their music and we all have favorites. This band by far should be at the top of the list of inductees into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. It is a shame that the selection process has been so commercialized.

Few groups to emerge in the 80's were as highly regarded by their peers as Los Lobos and they carved out a hardcore following with their brand of rootsy rock, but it took them recording the soundtrack for the Ritchie Valens bio movie to get them any manstream acclaim as well as their only big hits, and then it was with Valens covers not their original material. Actually, it was probably their renditions of Valens work which most likely propelled him into the Hall Of Fame by reviving interest in his otherwise minor and tragically shortlived career. Los Lobos themselves though still maintain a solid standing in the music community and the 80's in general have few candidates the Hall apparently wants to consider, since the voters don't seem to like what was actually popular during that decade (dance-rock, hip-hop, hair metal and the like) so their basic stylistic approach and lasting artistic credibility could work in their favor.

did more for Latino Rock then Richie Valens.

Stinkers

Born in East LA

Solid west coast latin rockers.

200 Club!

kiko

The Wolf Survived!

great east l.a. band

Good call.  They are great record makers, an exceptional live act and incredibly influential, breaking through the clutter of the post-punk/new wave era to become one of the seminal acts in the Americana movement that is still going strong today.  But in partnership with ex-officio menbers Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake they have gone beyond their Band from East L.A.. roots to explore far more progressive forms of blues and psychedelia influenced music.  Creative, durable and they play with great heart.  Typically the Hall will consider a band 25 years after their first recording so by my math, Los Lobos should be on the ballad in the next couple of years.

Great all around band,not only latin. Dave and Cesar are two great guitarist just ask Slowhand, and they write about real life situations, won grammys,

won grammys won VMA put a new spi on la bamba sure

I've seen them live a few times and they really are great. They have a very eclectic style. Very underrated.

Phenomenal band, both in studio and live. Comfortable in a wide variety of genres. Great songwriters and musicians. Unfairly tagged as the "La Bamba band". One of the most underrated bands around, I can't praise them enough.

Had a good mix of rock and Latin music in the 80's, but a far cry from Santana.