Los Hermanos Castro
Encyclopedia
Los Hermanos Castro are a male singing quartet
originated in Mexico City
, Mexico
in the mid 1950s.
, c. 1982, Gualberto said: "Javier was just a baby when he sang and played in "Los Ponchos." My uncle stood him up on a chair so he could reach up to play the stand-up bass."
); the late Jorge Castro, tenor
vocals, rhythms; and Gualberto Castro tenor
countertenor
.
From humble beginning, Los Hermanos Castro sang in Mexico City nightclubs, bars, theaters until a New York
agent discovered the group and booked then for work in New York City
i.e., The Copacabana.
set within the traditional Mexican trio style "plus one" that echoed the Mariachi
sound developed a newness in music that set the group apart from their modern counterparts. The unusual blend of Jorge's tenor with Gualberto's tenor - countertenor voices blended with the deeper voices of Arturo and Javier voices played in Bossa nova
, Samba
and Jazz
styles, were the reason the group was continually contracted in many Lounges throughout the United States. In the mid-1960 the group was booked into night clubs and lounges in Las Vegas
, Nevada
. They performed with Paul Anka
, Judy Garland
, and many entertainers including featured in the French production show Casino de Paris
at the Dunes Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV, produced by the late Frederick Apcar.
The group also appeared in Cuba
, Spain
, Puerto Rico
, Central America
, Argentina
.
Los Hermanos Castro sang on television shows such as The Judy Garland Show. Many of the songs the group performed were written by Arturo. Their single "Un Hombre y Una Mujer" reached the number three position on the Puerto Rico singles chart in June 1967. In 1971 they were Brazilian Festival winners.
aka "el Bigoton Castro", a well known Mexican comedian, Benito cousin to Arturo, Javier and Gualberto Castro, entered the group.
For a Fan's Website, please click here http://director.io/loscastro/2basetodo.htm
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
originated in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in the mid 1950s.
The original group: "Los Panchitos"
The original group was formed in the mid 1940s and was called "Los Ponchos." The group was made up of three brothers: Arturo, Jorge, and Javier Castro. Their ages ranged between 10 and 6 years old. Arturo played the piano, Jorge was the drummer, and Javier played the stand-up bass. In an interview with Gualberto CastroGualberto Castro
Gualberto Antonio Castro is of Mexican and Lebanese ancestry from his father side of the family and French and Mexican descent from his mother's side, Gualberto is a Mexican singer-entertainer best known for singing with Los Hermanos Castro aka and for hosting the...
, c. 1982, Gualberto said: "Javier was just a baby when he sang and played in "Los Ponchos." My uncle stood him up on a chair so he could reach up to play the stand-up bass."
The Formation of "Los Hermanos Castro"
When "Los Ponchos" were playing in restaurants and bars in Mexico City, Gualberto Castro, their first cousin, about 13 years old at the time, was auditioning in many venues to become a singer. Often Arturo would go to interviews with Gualberto as his piano player or musical accompaniment; the cousins knew they could sing well, but they were all having difficulty finding work. Gualberto's father, Antonio talked to his brother and they decided that Arturo, Jorge, Javier, and Gualberto should join together in a group. When Gualberto entered they group, "Los Ponchos" became "Los Hermanos Castro."Los Hermanos Castro
The original members of Los Hermanos Castro were Arturo Castro, piano, later keyboards, musical arranger, song writer, and vocals; Javier Castro, vocals, stand-up bass, later electric bass, (Javier is father of Mexican actress Daniela CastroDaniela Castro
Daniela Castro is a telenovela actress.- Family :Daniela is a daughter of Javier Castro, who is one of the members of the original musical group Los Hermanos Castro...
); the late Jorge Castro, tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
vocals, rhythms; and Gualberto Castro tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
countertenor
Countertenor
A countertenor is a male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto, mezzo-soprano, or a soprano, usually through use of falsetto, or far more rarely than normal, modal voice. A pre-pubescent male who has this ability is called a treble...
.
From humble beginning, Los Hermanos Castro sang in Mexico City nightclubs, bars, theaters until a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
agent discovered the group and booked then for work in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
i.e., The Copacabana.
Success
The group's four part harmonyHarmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
set within the traditional Mexican trio style "plus one" that echoed the Mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
sound developed a newness in music that set the group apart from their modern counterparts. The unusual blend of Jorge's tenor with Gualberto's tenor - countertenor voices blended with the deeper voices of Arturo and Javier voices played in Bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
, Samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
and Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
styles, were the reason the group was continually contracted in many Lounges throughout the United States. In the mid-1960 the group was booked into night clubs and lounges in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. They performed with Paul Anka
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
, Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
, and many entertainers including featured in the French production show Casino de Paris
Casino de Paris
The Casino de Paris, located at 16, rue de Clichy, in the 9th arrondissement is one of the well known music halls of Paris, with a history dating back to the 18th century. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it is a performance venue, not a gambling house...
at the Dunes Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV, produced by the late Frederick Apcar.
The group also appeared in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, 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...
, 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...
, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Los Hermanos Castro sang on television shows such as The Judy Garland Show. Many of the songs the group performed were written by Arturo. Their single "Un Hombre y Una Mujer" reached the number three position on the Puerto Rico singles chart in June 1967. In 1971 they were Brazilian Festival winners.
Group reorganizes
The group returned to their native Mexico in the late 1970s. At that time Jorge Castro left the group to pursue a solo career. Benito Castro, son of the late Arturo CastroArturo Castro
Arturo Castro was a Mexican actor of film and television who appeared in a large number of minor roles from 1945 to 1976. He is perhaps best-known for his role as "Bigotón" in the Telesistema Mexicano sitcom Los Beverly de Peralvillo...
aka "el Bigoton Castro", a well known Mexican comedian, Benito cousin to Arturo, Javier and Gualberto Castro, entered the group.
Website
To view a pictorial / narrative history of Los Hermanos Castro, please click http://gualbertocastro.com/Castro%20Brothers%20page.htmlFor a Fan's Website, please click here http://director.io/loscastro/2basetodo.htm