LOS ANGELES AZULES
Mexican group Los Ángeles Azules were formed in the early ’80s by brothers Elías, José, and Jorge Mejía Avante. Playing a Latin style known as onda grupera, the band became a chart-topping act after issuing Inolvidables in 1996, soon achieving platinum status in Argentina, where they successfully performed live in 1998. Later, singer Carlos Becíes decided to leave the group, forming his own band called Los Ángeles de Charly. In 2001, Los Ángeles Azules were nominated to the Billboard Latin Music Awards; that same year, they toured the U.S. to celebrate their 20th anniversary and released Historia Musical, which peaked at number two on the Latin albums chart and hit number 161 in the Top 200. In 2002, the group introduced audiences to Becíes’ replacement, singer Erick de la Peña, via the charting single “Por el Amor a Mi Madre,” from the album Alas al Mundo. The full-length peaked at number six on the Latin albums chart and hit number three on the regional Mexican albums list. A live album and two compilations followed over the next two years, each placing on the charts.