Sangre Joven will return to Pagosa Springs Sept. 23 to take the stage at the 17th annual Mountain Chile Cha Cha at the athletic field in the Town Park.
By Jacque Aragon | Mountain Chile Cha Cha
The 17th annual Mountain Chile Cha Cha is Saturday, Sept. 23, at the athletic field in the Town Park.
The festival includes a morning trail race, a Mexican beer garden, a margarita contest, a green chile cook-off and tasting, an all-day kids’ corner and fresh green chile roasted on-site. One of our favorites, Sangre Joven, a beloved band from previous years, will return this year to deliver an electrifying Latin music performance.
About Sangre Joven
Sangre Joven originated in the northern New Mexico pueblo de Las Vegas. Our style of music is performed in El Estillo Del Norte De Nuevo, Mexico, and consists of Ranchera, Cumbias, Corridos, Polkas and Valses traditional to our heritage for centuries.
The band began its musical journey in 1988 with Lorenzo Miguel Gallegos and brother Daniel Lee Gallegos.
Gallegos founded the group. Several other members have contributed to the success throughout the last three decades, including artists such as Robert (Seaweed) Gonzales, better known as Gonzalo; Michael Marquez y Dulzura; Joaquin Maestas, of Quemoso; Bobby Madrid; and, of course, Lorenzo Miguel Gallegos.
The result was 17 very successful CDs. We recorded the first album in 1989, entitled “Sangre Joven De Las Vegas, New Mexico.” It put us on the map and the music scene. Three other albums followed, including “Esta Vida, On The Run” and “Mal Ideas,” which was such a huge success that it established us as an opening act for Los Lobos in 1994.
The band produced numerous original hits, including “Linda Morena,” “Esta Vida,” “Chiquitita de Mi Vida,” “Triste Aqui,” “Soy Musiqero,” “El Carrito Chevy (55),” and many more.
In the summer of 1998, we released our fifth CD, “Mala Sangre.” It was a tremendous success due in part to the brass section we added and the many more original songs that hit the charts. We wrote and arranged “Alegre Corazon,” “Poco A Poco,” “Sin tus Besos,” “La Mas Hermosa” and “Besitos de Amor” for Best Salsa/Tropical Song of the Year. The CD was so successful it inspired and encouraged us to record a new enhanced CD entitled “Nortenisimo.” This CD features a special multimedia section with a full-length video for your computer.
In 2006, we released an all-original CD entitled “Sangre Joven (Originales de Daniel Gallegos),” produced by no other than Gonzalo. It consisted of 10 original songs Daniel Lee Gallegos wrote in the New Mexico music style. Two original songs off the CD, “Te Me Fuistes” and “Y Que,” appeared in the top five on KSLV’s “Horas Latina” with Jerry Medina in Monte Vista, Colo. Also, a TV appearance on Anthony Segura’s show in Albuquerque, N.M., in late December of that year elevated the band to new heights.
From 2009 to 2012, Daniel Lee Gallegos decided to put Sangre Joven on the back burner, per se. He concentrated on releasing two CDs with his brothers Rey and Francisco Gallegos (aka) Los Gallegos Brozz. The CDs entitled “Puro, Pinche, Party,” and “A.T.M” brought many nominations in several categories as they are members of the New Mexico Hispano Music Association (NMHMA). Daniel Lee Gallegos also released his first solo CD, “Puras Conocidas,” which sold more than 4,000 copies in New Mexico and Colorado. It earned him a nomination for Corrido of The Year for “Reyes Ruiz.”
In 2013, the band transformed and became a five-piece group again, tying its music to its traditional roots. The band released a CD entitled “Act Right ‘Portate Bien’” and toured the southwest states of New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Arizona and Utah. The group was also nominated for Salsa/Tropical Song of The Year for the song La Camisa Negra by the NMHMA.
With tremendous success, the band released its ninth studio album, “Que Viva La Raza,” in 2014, which catapulted the group to perform more than 100 shows that year at many casinos, fiestas, weddings, family reunions and private functions.
In 2015, Daniel Lee Gallegos released his second solo CD, entitled “Hasta El Ultimo Cartucho,” where he started performing with an entire brass horn section in full New Mexican style. Later that year, Los Gallegos Brozz released its third studio CD, “Puros Exitos.” In 2016, Sangre Joven released its 10th CD, “Fierce,” featuring Bobby Madrid. The song “Carta Jugada” hit No. 1 in Colorado (on KSLV) and won the prestigious award for Los 15 Grandes de Nuevo Mexico.
In 2017 Daniel Gallegos released his third solo CD,“Exitos Originales,” and won his second award from the NMHMA for Instrumental Song of The Year for “Polka de Vino.” In 2018, Sangre Joven released its 11th CD, “Corridos,” and received a second award by Los 15 Grandes de Nuevo Mexico for the Corrido “Gabino Barrera.” In 2019, the group released its 12th studio CD, “30th Anniversary 1989-2019,” celebrating 30 years in the music industry with thousands of shows and 19 albums combined.
Sangre Joven was awarded another third Los 15 Grandes de Nuevo Mexico award in 2019 for the song “Viente Anos” from the new CD. Daniel Lee Gallegos was presented with the 2019 Corazon de Cultura Award in Music by the Hispanic Heritage Committee for his accomplishments in promoting and preserving Hispanic culture, history and heritage for 30 years. During the pandemic, Sangre Joven released its 13th album, “2020,” which won two more awards (CD of The Year and Producer of The Year). The band is releasing its highly anticipated 14th studio album “Orale.”
The band consists of Manny Lucero (drums), Jerrold Roybal (bass/vocals), Ray Lucero (saxophone/vocals), and original member Daniel Lee Gallegos (lead guitar/vocals).
Our goal is to keep New Mexico music (rancheras) alive and make people happy with our God-given talent.
