International Salsa Magazine

Los Melódicos

Latinoamerica / Venezuela / Caracas

Among Venezuela’s most famous orchestras are Los Melódicos and Billo’s Caracas Boys; here, we focus on Los Melódicos, a Venezuelan dance orchestra founded on July 15, 1958, by musical director Renato Capriles (who passed away in 2014)—with the support of bandleader Billo Frómeta—in response to the temporary dissolution of the Billo’s Caracas Boys orchestra.

Los Melódicos
Los Melódicos

Los Melódicos are composed of: 4 saxophones, 3 trombones, 3 trumpets, a 5-piece rhythm section (piano, bass, drums, and minor percussion), 4 vocalists (always including a female singer), and their conductor—totaling 20 artists on stage.

Their slogan is “THE ORCHESTRA THAT SETS THE RHYTHM IN VENEZUELA,” though abroad they are also known as “LATIN AMERICA’S MOST COMPLETE ORCHESTRA,” “THE ORCHESTRA OF EVERY RHYTHM,” and “THE GIANT ORCHESTRA OF THE AMERICAS,” among other titles.

They are also the only Latin orchestra boasting such an extensive repertoire spanning a wide range of musical trends and styles, including salsa and merengue.

Their versatility is such that, during any given set, one might hear songs in Spanish, English, French, or Italian, alongside the latest popular rhythms—whether tropical, Anglo-American, classical, or modern—in all their variations.

Los Melódicos - Photo
Los Melódicos – Photo

Beyond the impeccable live performances delivered by each member, the group puts on a true “show,” compelling the audience to stop dancing and form a massive semicircle in front of the stage, while actively interacting with the band throughout the performance.

Los Melódicos have garnered the most prestigious awards both within and outside Venezuela, remaining the premier musical choice for major public and private events year after year. It would be an endless task to list the awards and accolades they proudly cherish—bestowed by various entities in countries such as Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Curaçao, and Aruba, as well as in U.S. cities with significant Latino communities (such as Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Tampa, Houston, Philadelphia, and—notably—New York). They continue to travel to New York to perform at top venues like the New York Hilton Hotel, where their twice-yearly dances became a must-attend, highly successful event in that major global entertainment hub.

With a history spanning over 50 years, LOS MELÓDICOS boasts a discography of more than 100 albums—a milestone unmatched by any other dance orchestra in the Americas—including the following:

Hits Songs
The 1960s ·       Caballito Relinchón

·       El Ladrón

·       El Misterio

·       Veneración

·       El pastorcillo
The 1970s ·       Cayetano baila

·       Guitarra española

·       Apágame la vela

·       Al que le pique

·       Dejen de averiguá
The 1980s ·       Papachongo

·       Mi Cocha Pechocha

·       La Fiesta

·       Hot Music ¡Oh, mañana!

·       Tú (éxito original de Juan Luis Guerra)

·       Ulé-ulé

·       Fernanda

·       Mi cacerola

·       Traca que traca
The 1990s ·       Por ti amor

·       ¡Qué rico!

·       Diávolo

·       ¡Ay, Amor!

·       Sal y Menta

·       Mi locura

·       Amiga

·       No necesito más

·       Zúmbalo

·       Mi corazón

·       Amanecer
Los Melódicos CDs
Los Melódicos CDs

Los Melódicos Discography

  1. These Are Los Melódicos (1959)
  2. Fabulous Dance Hits (1963)
  3. Buy the Orchestra (1964)
  4. Great Musical Reserve (1965)
  5. The Most Complete Lineup (1966)
  6. The Orchestra of Hits (1969)
  7. The One and Only (1969)
  8. Guayabo a la Ye (1970)
  9. Catch It by the Tail (1970)
  10. The Los Melódicos Club (1972 – Discomoda)
  11. With All the Works (1974 – LM-Discomoda)
  12. In Action with Los Melódicos (1974)
  13. The Tempting Flavor (1975 LM-Discomoda)
  14. Heavy (1975 LM-Discomoda)
  15. For Whoever It Itches (1976 LM-Discomoda)
  16. Los Melódicos (1977 LM-Discomoda)
  17. And How Are You? (1977)
  18. 40 Years of Hits (with Manolo Monterrey) (1978 – LM-Discomoda)
  19. The Swing of Los Melódicos (1979)
  20. Party Night (1970)
  21. Memories 17 (1971)
  22. Congratulations (1972)
  23. I Had My Coffee Plantation (1980)
    1. Lyrics and music by the Colombian
    2. Álvaro Serrano Calderon
  24. The Musical Emblem of Venezuela (1980)
  25. Welcome (1981)
  26. Tonight (1981)
  27. We Are Sensational! (1982)
  28. The Sheikh (1982 LM-Discomoda)
  29. With Flavor! (1983)
  30. Oh! Tahiti (1984)
  31. Dismelódicos ’85 (1984 LM-Discomoda)
  32. Cada Día Mejor (1985)
  33. Es otra cosa! (1986)
  34. Juntos Los Grandes del Baile
    1. (With Billo’s, Side A)
    2. (1986 Velvet-Sonográfica)
  35. De Nuevo Juntos Los Grandes del Baile
    1. (With Billo’s, Side A) (1988 Velvet-Sonográfica)
  36. Diferentes (1989 – Velvet-Rodven)
  37. Líderes (1990 – Velvet-Rodven)
  38. La Orquesta que impresa el ritmo en América (1991 – Velvet-Rodven)
  39. Melódicos Club Mix (1991 – Velvet-Rodven)
  40. Internacional (1992 – Velvet-Rodven)
  41. Melódicos Club Mix Two (1993 – Velvet-Rodven)
  42. Innovating (1994)
  43. Incomparable (1995)
  44. Los Melódicos Hits Together (1998)
  45. To Dance Non-Stop (1999)
  46. The Boys With The Girls (2000)
  47. Los Melódicos Vs Billos (2002)
  48. Number 100 for the World (2004)
  49. Los Melódicos With Diveana (2005)
  50. These Are The Singers (2009)
  51. Micaela (2010)
  52. Tonight We’ll Wake Up Partying (2011)
  53. My Cumbia (2012)
  54. They Return With The Best And The Newest (2012)
  55. The Melódicos Renato Caprilles (2013)
  56. Christmas with Los Melódicos (2014)
  57. Golden Era (2015)
  58. Golden Classics (2016)
2- Los Melódicos CDs
2- Los Melódicos CDs
Karina Bernales
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