Los Cuñaos [coo-nyah'-os] is an eight-part vocal group established in Caracas, Venezuela in 1974. Their repertoire is based on popular Venezuelan songs adapted to their own unique style of singing, performing a crossover of traditional and pop genres while contrasting their work with rich and warm harmonies.[1]

Los Cuñaos
OriginVenezuela
GenresTraditional, pop
Years active1974 (1974)–Present (Present)
LabelsCBS–Columbia
MembersFounding group
Alí Agüero
José Ramón Angarita
Fanny Barrios
Ofelinda García
Carlos Moreán
Gonzalo Peña
Maricruz Quintero
Zenaida Riera
Others
Meiver Acuña
Germán Freytes
Luis Manuel Frómeta
Leonor Jove
Carlos Landáez
Franklin Mendoza
Elizabeth Quintanales
Candy Rojas
Edgar Salazar
José Sifontes
Daniel Somaroo
Emilio Solé

History

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The group was formed by musician Alí Agüero, who came to sing with the Onda Nueva group created and led by Aldemaro Romero. The Onda Nueva (New Wave) is a genre derived from the Venezuelan joropo and the Brazilian bossa nova, which has a few slight nods to jazz and classical music.[1]

In essence, Los Cuñaos is a studio vocal group, as they are jingle singers, the core members of a fellowship that used to gather daily in recording studios to sing a short song or tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. Individually, they are totally unknown to popular music listeners, even though their singing was heard day and night on television and radio across Venezuela. At the time, most of the top jingle singers in Venezuela drifted into the business from the pop music world.[1]

Los Cuñaos made their first public appearance at Aula Magna of the Central University of Venezuela late in 1974. The group later toured Chile, Puerto Rico, Mexico and United States.[1]

Selected repertory

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  • Adios
  • Alma llanera
  • Ayúdame / Cuando no sé de ti / Te necesito / Ansiedad
  • Barlovento / San Juan to' lo tiene
  • Caballo viejo
  • Canchunchú dichoso / Caramba
  • Caracas / Cimarrón
  • Carmen
  • Carretera / Me gusta soñar
  • Chucho y Ceferina
  • Conde a Principal
  • Crepúsculo coriano
  • Dama antañona / Mujer merideña
  • Danzas orientales / Maremare / El robalo / La burriquita
  • El ausente / Brumas del mar
  • El cumaco de San Juan / Mónica Pérez
  • El muñeco de la ciudad / El carite
  • El raspao'
  • Esquina la Bolsa
  • Fantasía criolla
  • Flor de Mayo / Ahora
  • Florentino y el Diablo
  • La chipola
  • La Ruperta / El perico / Préstame tu máquina
  • Maracaibo en la noche / Pregones de la Plaza Baralt
  • Maria Elena / Adios a Ocumare
  • Niño lindo
  • Olor a Navidad / Grey Zuliana
  • Poco a poco
  • Polo coriano
  • Pueblos tristes
  • Quinta Anauco / Y llueve todavía
  • Quitapesares / Amándonos
  • Ricciardi
  • San Juan se va / Moliendo café
  • Serenata
  • Tu ternura / Anhelante
  • Zumba que zumba

Discography

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Year Title Label Ref
1974   Los Cuñaos – Música Venezolana     CBS–Columbia   [2][3]
1975 Los Cuñaos Volumen 2 CBS–Columbia [2][3]
1975 Los Cuñaos Volumen 3 CBS–Columbia [2][3]
1976 Los Cuñaos 4 CBS–Columbia [2][3]
1979 Los Cuñaos 5 CBS–Columbia [2][3]
1981 Los Cuñaos 6 CBS–Columbia [2][3]
1990 Sabor Venezolano (compilation) CBS–Columbia [2][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Peñin, José; Guido, Walter (1998). Enciclopedia de la Música en Venezuela. Fundación Bigott, Caracas. ISBN 978-980-6428-03-4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Los Cuñaos Discography". Discogs. Discogs.com. Retrieved on December 12, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Los Cuñaos Biography and Discography". Sincopa.com. Retrieved on December 12, 2015.
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