La Pandilla
Encyclopedia
La Pandilla was a teen music group of the 1970s. La Pandilla, founded in 1970 by Pepa Aguirre. The group had members of both sexes, unlike most pop music bands.
Aguirre's son and daughter, and her niece, formed the band, and later, two other boys were added to the group. La Pandilla released their first album, Villancicos, late in 1970.
La Pandilla had initially a big impact in Spain
, their home country. After a personnel change (due to some of the original members growing up), they experienced some backlash in the country for recording their song "El Alacrán" ("The Scorpion"), an innocent pop tune that made a coincidental reference to a clandestine group that was one of Francisco Franco
's staunchest opponents. Franco's censors objected to the group, and as a consequence, they started touring Latin America
more frequently.
Their appeal to youth in some Latin American countries bordered in collective hysteria
, a reaction that evoked that of Beatlemania
in the mid 1960s. During the 1970s, it was common to see La Pandilla related items such as notebooks, posters, magazines, notebook covers, rulers, dolls and others at department stores all over the Spanish
speaking countries.
La Pandilla was chiefly instrumental in the later success and development of one of history's most legendary boy bands: Menudo
. In 1973, the future founder of Menudo, Edgardo Diaz
, who was a medical student in Spain
and lived next door to the Aguirreses, joined the band's entourage as a sound expert. Diaz turned out to be the bridge between La Pandilla and Puerto Rico
, the country where La Pandilla's success was longest-lived. Thanks in part to him, Alfred D. Herger
(who became known as the biggest pandillero in Puerto Rico) and Felix Santiesteban, the group became a teen favorite in the Caribbean
island. Diaz became manager in 1974. In 1975, the band was received by a huge crowd of Puerto Rican
fans at the Iberia Airlines
terminal at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
at San Juan
. Similar receptions took place in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, Venezuela and other countries.
The definitive lineup of La Pandilla, which was a close-knit group, literally grew up together, along with their fans. This eventually became a liability, as the youngest members' voices matured and, by doing so, made their original sound difficult to produce. Another liability, at least in Diaz's view, was that of having a female singer, Mari Blanca, for whom separate lodging, security and chaperone arrangements had always had to be made due to her gender. This prompted Díaz to leave the management of the group and set up yet another, this time in his native Puerto Rico, in which only young males before the age of fifteen would be used and replaced when they aged. After Diaz left formed Menudo, La Pandilla's popularity slowly declined.
Many of the members went on to become professionals in other areas.
Aguirre's son and daughter, and her niece, formed the band, and later, two other boys were added to the group. La Pandilla released their first album, Villancicos, late in 1970.
La Pandilla had initially a big impact in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, their home country. After a personnel change (due to some of the original members growing up), they experienced some backlash in the country for recording their song "El Alacrán" ("The Scorpion"), an innocent pop tune that made a coincidental reference to a clandestine group that was one of Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's staunchest opponents. Franco's censors objected to the group, and as a consequence, they started touring Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
more frequently.
Their appeal to youth in some Latin American countries bordered in collective hysteria
Collective hysteria
Mass hysteria—other names include collective hysteria, group hysteria, or collective obsessional behavior—is the manifestation of the same or similar hysterical symptoms by more than one person. A common manifestation of mass hysteria occurs when a group of people believe they are suffering from a...
, a reaction that evoked that of Beatlemania
Beatlemania
Beatlemania is a term that originated during the 1960s to describe the intense fan frenzy directed toward The Beatles during the early years of their success...
in the mid 1960s. During the 1970s, it was common to see La Pandilla related items such as notebooks, posters, magazines, notebook covers, rulers, dolls and others at department stores all over the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
speaking countries.
La Pandilla was chiefly instrumental in the later success and development of one of history's most legendary boy bands: Menudo
Menudo (band)
Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era....
. In 1973, the future founder of Menudo, Edgardo Diaz
Edgardo Díaz
Edgardo Díaz born in Panama City, Panama, is the creator of the "boy band" Menudo. The son of Puerto Ricans, Díaz grew up in Caguas, Puerto Rico....
, who was a medical student in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and lived next door to the Aguirreses, joined the band's entourage as a sound expert. Diaz turned out to be the bridge between La Pandilla and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, the country where La Pandilla's success was longest-lived. Thanks in part to him, Alfred D. Herger
Alfred D. Herger
Alfredo Domingo Herger is a famous former Puerto Rican television show host and a psychologist. He has been labeled the Ed Sullivan of Puerto Rico in local media, due to his strong influence in Puerto Rican pop culture and his success as a television presenter.-Early life:Herger, of Spanish and...
(who became known as the biggest pandillero in Puerto Rico) and Felix Santiesteban, the group became a teen favorite in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
island. Diaz became manager in 1974. In 1975, the band was received by a huge crowd of Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
fans at the Iberia Airlines
Iberia Airlines
Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A., commonly known as Iberia, is the flag carrier airline of Spain. Based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from its main bases of Madrid-Barajas Airport and Barcelona El Prat Airport....
terminal at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...
at San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. Similar receptions took place in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, Venezuela and other countries.
The definitive lineup of La Pandilla, which was a close-knit group, literally grew up together, along with their fans. This eventually became a liability, as the youngest members' voices matured and, by doing so, made their original sound difficult to produce. Another liability, at least in Diaz's view, was that of having a female singer, Mari Blanca, for whom separate lodging, security and chaperone arrangements had always had to be made due to her gender. This prompted Díaz to leave the management of the group and set up yet another, this time in his native Puerto Rico, in which only young males before the age of fifteen would be used and replaced when they aged. After Diaz left formed Menudo, La Pandilla's popularity slowly declined.
Many of the members went on to become professionals in other areas.
Band members
- Santi Martinez, son of Pepa Aguirre, now married to famous singer Maria Caneda, executive for DisneyThe Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
music in Spain. Became a member of Tradición after leaving La Pandilla. Tradición included all Aguirre brothers and sisters, including Nieves. Became a member of La Pequeña Compañía in the early 1980's, representing Spain in the 1982 OTI Festival with them. - Nieves Martinez, daughter of Pepa Aguirre, married to an Iberia Airlines executive. Was a member of Tradición with her brother Santiago.
- Mari Blanca Ruiz Martinez, niece of Pepa Aguirre, now a veterinarian.
- Juan Carlos Martinez, no relation to Santi and Nieves, lived in Puerto Rico many years, has since returned to Spain and works at a professional marketing firm.
- Francisco Javier Martinez, brother of Juan Carlos, now works in finance and investments
- Francisco Javier López, Javi. twin brother of Rubén López, now a surgeon
- Rubén López, never married, now a surgeon like his twin brother
- Gabriel Jiménez González, Gaby, now an actor, and voice dubbing talent in his native country.