Chalino Sanchez was a Mexican singer and songwriter who pioneered the narcocorrido genre, which depicts the lives of drug traffickers and other criminals. He was known for his distinctive voice, his controversial lyrics, and his tragic death. On May 15, 1992, he received a note during his last live performance that allegedly threatened his life. The next day, he was found dead with two bullet wounds in his head. What was written in the note and who killed him are still mysteries that haunt his fans and admirers.
Who Was Chalino Sanchez?
Chalino was born on August 30, 1960, in Rancho Las Flechas, a rural area in the municipality of Culiacan, Sinaloa. He was the youngest of eight siblings in a poor family. His father, Santos Sanchez, died when he was six years old, and his brother, Armando Sanchez, was murdered in a hotel in Tijuana when he was 15. According to some accounts, Chalino avenged his brother’s death by killing the murderer, and then fled to the United States to avoid arrest.
He settled in Los Angeles, California, where he worked as a truck driver, a farm laborer, and a car washer. He also began to compose songs for people who wanted to immortalize their stories in corridos, a traditional Mexican ballad form. He charged $30 for each song and recorded them on cassettes that he sold out of his car. He also performed in local clubs and bars, where he gained popularity among the Mexican-American community.
Chalino’s songs were inspired by his own experiences and the stories of his clients, many of whom were involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities. He sang about violence, death, revenge, love, betrayal, and corruption, using graphic and explicit language. He also praised and criticized some of the most notorious drug lords of his time, such as Rafael Caro Quintero, Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, and Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Chalino Sanchez’s style was unique and innovative. He had a raspy and nasal voice that contrasted with the traditional smooth and melodic voices of other corrido singers. He also mixed different musical genres, such as norteno, banda, and ranchera, and used various instruments, such as accordions, guitars, tubas, and drums. He often wore a cowboy hat, a leather jacket, and sunglasses, and carried a pistol on his belt.
Chalino’s fame grew rapidly in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He recorded several albums with different labels, such as Discos Linda, Cintas Acuario, RR, Balboa Records, Edimusa, and Musart. He also formed his own band, Los Amables del Norte, with whom he produced some of his most acclaimed songs. He was nicknamed “El Rey del Corrido” (The King of the Corrido) and was regarded as one of Mexico’s greatest singers. He also influenced a new generation of narcocorrido artists, such as Los Tigres del Norte, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, and El Komander.
Chalino Sanchez Death
| Name | Rosalino “Chalino” Sánchez Félix |
|---|---|
| Birth date | August 30, 1960 |
| Birthplace | Rancho Las Flechas, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico |
| Death date | May 16, 1992 |
| Death place | Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico |
| Cause of death | Murder (gunshot wounds) |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Genre | Regional Mexican, narcocorrido, norteño, banda |
| Years active | 1984-1992 |
| Labels | RR, Cintas Acuario, Discos Linda, Discos Musart, Balboa Records |
| Associated acts | Los Amables del Norte, Los Cuatro de la Frontera |
| Spouse | Marisela Vallejos Felix |
| Children | Adan Sánchez, Cynthia Sánchez |
| Wikipedia | Chalino Sánchez |
What Happened On His Last Night?
On May 15, 1992, Chalino was hired to perform at a club called El Parral, in the city of Coachella, California. He arrived with his band and his manager, Pedro Rivera, who was also the owner of Cintas Acuario, one of his record labels. The club was packed with hundreds of fans who were eager to see and hear their idol.
Chalino Sanchez took the stage around 10 p.m. and started to sing his hits, such as Nieves de Enero, Alma Enamorada, and Florita del Alma. The crowd cheered and sang along with him, while some of them approached him to shake his hand, hug him, or give him gifts. Among the gifts, there was a note that someone handed him while he was singing. Chalino opened the note and read it carefully. His face changed. He looked nervous and sweaty. He wiped his forehead with his hand and nodded to someone on the side of the stage. He then continued to sing as if nothing had happened.
The note was later revealed to be a death threat. According to some witnesses, the note said: “You’re going to die tonight. We’re going to kill you. You have no idea who you’re messing with.” The note was signed by “Los Quinteros”, a reference to the Quintero family, one of the most powerful and violent drug clans in Sinaloa. The Quinteros were allegedly behind the murder of Chalino’s brother, Armando, and had a long-standing feud with Chalino, who had sung about their crimes and rivalries in some of his corridos.
Chalino finished his performance around midnight and left the club with his band and his manager. He got into a white Suburban and headed to his hotel in Indio, California. On the way, he was intercepted by a group of armed men in two cars, who forced him to stop and get out of his vehicle. They kidnapped him and drove away, leaving his band and his manager behind. The kidnappers were never identified, but they were suspected to be hired by the Quinteros or another drug cartel that had a grudge against Chalino.
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How Did He Die?
The next morning, May 16, 1992, Chalino Sanchez’s body was found on the side of a road near the town of El Vado, in Culiacan, Sinaloa. He had been shot twice in the head, execution-style. His body was wrapped in a blanket and had a rope around his neck. He also had bruises and marks of torture on his face and chest. He was wearing the same clothes he had worn at his last concert: a white shirt, black pants, and black boots. His hat, his sunglasses, and his pistol were missing.
Chalino’s death shocked and saddened his fans and his family. His wife, Marisela Vallejos, and his two children, Adan and Cynthia, flew to Culiacan to claim his body and bring it back to Los Angeles. His funeral was held at the Forest Lawn Cemetery, where thousands of people came to pay their respects and say goodbye to their idol. His coffin was covered with flowers and banners that read: “Chalino, you will always live in our hearts” and “Chalino, the king of the corrido”.
Chalino’s death also sparked a wave of violence and revenge in Sinaloa and other parts of Mexico. According to some reports, several members of the Quintero family and other drug traffickers who were involved or suspected in Chalino’s murder were killed by his friends and allies, who sought to avenge his death. Some of these killings were immortalized in new corridos, such as El Crimen de Culiacan, El Corrido de Chalino Sanchez, and La Venganza del M1.
Chalino’s death also increased his popularity and his legend. His albums and cassettes sold millions of copies, and his songs were played on radio stations and jukeboxes across Mexico and the United States. His image became an icon of Mexican culture and identity, especially among the immigrant community. His fans copied his style, his voice, and his attitude. His life and his death inspired books, documentaries, movies, and TV shows. He was posthumously honored with awards, tributes, and statues. He was also considered a martyr and a saint by some of his followers, who prayed to him and asked for his intercession.
Chalino’s legacy lives on in his music and in his influence on other artists. His son, Adan Sanchez, followed his footsteps and became a successful singer of narcocorridos, until he died in a car accident in 2004, at the age of 19. His daughter, Cynthia Sanchez, also pursued a musical career and recorded some of her father’s songs. Many other singers and bands, such as Gerardo Ortiz, Calibre 50, Ariel Camacho, and Los Plebes del Rancho, have acknowledged Chalino as their inspiration and have covered or sampled his songs.
Chalino Sanchez was a phenomenon and a pioneer of Mexican music. He revolutionized the corrido genre and gave voice to the stories and the struggles of his people. He was a rebel and a hero, a victim and a legend. He was the king of the corrido, and his crown is still shining.
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