Los Crich
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Gran Canaria and Seville , Spain |
| Products | Rock music recordings (singles and album) |
Los Crich was a Spanish rock ensemble active from the late 1960s through the early 1970s, distinguished by their blend of R&B, garage rock, and psychedelic sounds. The group consisted of Gustavo González on guitar, Toni Romero handling guitar and lead vocals, Rafael Martín playing bass and providing backing vocals, and Arturo Cárdenas on drums. While González originated from Gran Canaria, the remaining members were based in Seville.
From 1969 until 1973, Los Crich issued three singles that brought them moderate recognition across Spain. Gustavo González had previously gained experience with the band Nosotros. Additionally, his brother Ramiro González managed the Fonoguanche record label, which produced records for artists including Carlitos Romano, Nina Rojas, Los Sabandeños, Oscar Santana, and Guayaquí 3.
Career
Formed in 1968, Los Crich came together when Gustavo González, who had played in various groups before, teamed up with three musicians from Seville: Toni Romero, Rafael Martín, and Arturo Cárdenas. Initially, their repertoire consisted mainly of soul and rhythm & blues covers, notably songs by The Chambers Brothers.
Following early achievements, they received an offer to record a single in Madrid but opted to relocate to Gran Canaria to develop their sound further and access superior equipment.[1][2] In 1969, they released the single "All Strung Out Over You" backed with "I Can't Stand It" under Fonoguanche FG-S1.[3] Both tracks were covers originally by The Chambers Brothers,[4][5] with "I Can't Stand It" credited to Lester Chambers.[6] Txema Mañeru from Sonic Wave Magazine later observed that Los Crich embraced the psychedelic garage style characteristic of The Chambers Brothers.[7] Critics highlighted Arturo's drumming, Gustavo's guitar work, and Toni's vocal delivery despite the low-fidelity recording quality.[8]
In 1970, the band expanded its lineup to six members by adding vocalist Rafael Domínguez and organist Pepe Marrufo, both formerly of Los Soñadores; however, Domínguez left shortly thereafter. Their 1971 single "Dunia" backed with "Sentimientos" showcased a transition toward a more polished sound.
Constraints such as military obligations and other difficulties reduced their live appearances and led them to revert to the original quartet.[9] By 1974, they released "Moon Time" backed with "Hold On," experimenting with reggae and glam rock elements.[10] Industry challenges contributed significantly to their disbandment that year.[11]
Later years
In February 2015, journalist Diego Hernandez announced the release of a CD compiling their initial three singles. This project was a collaboration between Los '80 Pasan Factura and the Asociación Cultural del Disco Canario.[12][13]
Members
- Gustavo González – guitar
- Toni Romero – guitar and vocals
- Rafael Martín – bass and backing vocals
- Arturo Cárdenas – drums
- Rafael Domínguez – vocals (joined 1970)
- Pepe Marrufo – organ (joined 1970)
Singles
- Los Crich – "All Strung Out Over You" / "I Can't Stand It" - Fonoguanche FG-S1 - 1969
- Los Crich – "Dunia" / "Sentimientos" - Fonoguanche FGS-2 - 1971
- Crich – "Moontime" / "Hold On" - Fonal RA-105 - 1974
Albums
- Los Crich – Discografía 1969 - 1974 - released in 2015
External links
- Discogs - Los Crich