Los Gatos Salvajes
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Headquarters | Rosario, Santa Fe , Argentina |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Los Gatos Salvajes hailed from Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, and were a beat and garage rock ensemble active during the early to mid-1960s. Key members Litto Nebbia and Ciro Fogliatta later established the more renowned band Los Gatos. They stood among the earliest Argentine teenage rock & roll groups, influenced by the global beat phenomenon sparked by the Beatles and the British Invasion. Although their record sales were modest, they are recognized as trailblazers in the development of Argentine rock.
History
The band was formed in 1962 by keyboardist Ciro Fogliatta, initially featuring Rubén Rojas on vocals, Juan Carlos "Chango" Pueblas on guitar, and Ricardo Bellini on drums. The following year, Guillermo Romero joined as bassist while Jose "Tito" Adjaiye took over drumming duties from Bellini. Originally called The Wild Cats and inspired by bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Yardbirds, they replaced Rojas with Litto Nebbia, who also contributed harmonica. At Nebbia’s suggestion, they translated their name into Spanish as Los Gatos Salvajes and started performing songs in their native tongue. Their debut single "Oye niña"/"Calculadora" came out in 1963.
As their fan base expanded, Los Gatos Salvajes moved to Buenos Aires, where television appearances helped them reach a young urban demographic. This exposure led to a recording contract and several singles before releasing their sole LP, the self-titled Los Gatos Salvajes, in 1965. Unfortunately, due to inadequate promotion by a financially unstable label, the album sold fewer than a thousand copies before the company ceased operations.
Within a year, Adjaiye, Pueblas, and Romero returned to Rosario, causing the band's dissolution. However, Nebbia and Fogliatta stayed in Buenos Aires and went on to form Los Gatos, which achieved significant commercial success with their first single "La balsa," selling 200,000 copies. Los Gatos became pivotal figures in the Argentine National Rock movement.
In 2007, No Fun Productions released a compilation in the United States titled Los Gatos Salvajes: Complete Recordings.
1962
- Rubén Rojas (vocals)
- Ciro Fogliatta (keyboards)
- Juan Carlos "Chango" Pueblas (guitar)
- Ricardo Bellini (drums)
1963
- Rubén Rojas (vocals)
- Ciro Fogliatta (keyboards)
- Juan Carlos "Chango" Pueblas (guitar)
- Guillermo Romero (bass)
- Jose “Tito” Adjaiye (drums)
1964-1966
- Litto Nebbia (vocals, harmonica)
- Ciro Fogliatta (keyboards)
- Juan Carlos "Chango" Pueblas (guitar)
- Guillermo Romero (bass)
- Jose "Tito" Adjaiye (drums)
Studio
- Los Gatos Salvajes (Music Hall, 1965)
Compilations
- Bajo la rambla (1994)
- Los Gatos Salvajes (reissue, 2000)
Singles
- "Donde vas", 1965