Adán Sánchez

Adán Santos Sánchez Vallejo (April 14, 1984 - March 27, 2004), was a popular Mexican-American singer.

Biography

Adán was born in Torrance, CA. He was the son of famous narcocorrido singer Rosalino "Chalino" Sánchez. Adán was eight years old when his father was kidnapped and killed in the Mexican state of Sinaloa in 1992, causing a stir in the Regional-Mexican Music industry and attracting huge media attention. Raised by his mother in Paramount, CA, Adán began walking in his lost father's footsteps at a very early age. He took up singing corridos under his father's same nickname, "Chalino", and gained a strong local following among Mexican-American teenagers. [cite web | url=http://wm03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jifyxqthld0e~T1 | title = Evan C. Gutierrez, AllMusic.com]

Adán recorded his first full-length album in 1994, entitled "Soy el Hijo de Chalino (I'm the Son of Chalino)" - notable for the 10-year-old's brash and assertive vocals. Also notable is the album's rousing title track, which evokes the classic style of celebrated ranchera singers from Mexico's Golden Age. As he grew into his teens, the majority of Adán's album titles began to revolve around the loss of his father - such as "La Corona de Mi Padre (The Crown of My Father)," and "Homenaje a Mi Padre (Homage to My Father)." These references gave Adán credibility in the Banda music scene, where the macho image and untimely death of his father had stirred a resurgence of popularity among young Mexican-American men. But Adán was also able to widen the genre's popularity even further to teenage girls, thanks to his teen idol persona and focus on contemporary romantic ballads instead of the edgier themes of crime and drugs covered by his father. “I try to set my own path by singing my own songs," Adán stated in 2003 after signing with major Latin recording label Univision Music Group. "I think a lot of people continue recording my father’s songs, and I do it as well, but I don’t over do it like others. What I really want to do is record my own songs in my own particular style, without having to copy my father. If people notice similarities in my voice or movements, then I guess it’s in my genes." [cite web | url=http://www.univision.net/corp/en/pr/Woodland_Hills_24072003-1.html | title = Univision Press Release, 7/24/2003] He was promoted by the famous radio station "La Que Buena"

Kodak Concert

Adán made history on March 20, 2004 when he became the youngest headliner and first Regional-Mexican recording artist to practically sell out the world-famous Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. “I don’t think there are enough words to describe what I’m feeling at this time," Adán stated when the show was announced. "Getting to perform at this international venue is perhaps one of the biggest dreams ever and to date, the biggest challenge I’ve faced in my musical career." [cite web | url=http://www.univision.net/corp/en/pr/Woodland_Hills_03032004-1.html | title = Univision Press Release, 3/3/2004]

Some of the songs Adán performed were: "“Necesito Un Amor” (I Need A Love), “Morenita” (Little Dark One), “Paloma Negra” (Black Dove), “Fui Tan Feliz” (I Was Very Happy), “Dicen” (They Say)," and "“Me Canse De Morir Por Tu Amor” (I Got Tired of Dying For Your Love)." Adán also performed a medley of some of his father’s greatest hits, accompanied by images projected on large screens above the stage. “I am extremely pleased with the outcome,” he stated in his dressing room following the concert. "But more than anything, ecstatic with the number of fans that came out to support me. I dedicated this concert in my dad’s memory and to my wonderful people of Los Angeles. There aren’t enough words to thank my fans for their unconditional love and support." [cite web | url=http://www.univision.net/corp/en/pr/Woodland_Hills_23032004-1.html | title = Univision Press Release, 3/23/2004]

Death

One week after the concert on March 27, 2004, Adán embarked on a promotional road-tour through his father's home state of Sinaloa, Mexico. He was en route to a concert in Tuxpan, on the highway between Rosario and Escuinapa, when the 1989 Lincoln Town Car on 22's that he was traveling in blew a tire. According to police, the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled. Adán sustained severe head injuries and died on the scene. Three other people were in the car, including Adán's manager Lorena Rodriguez, of Santa Ana, California.and alex rodriguez and his fat brother known as "El gordo" They were taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries. No other vehicles were involved. "We are shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic news," said Jose Behar, president and CEO of Univision Music Group, in a statement the following day. "All of us have lost a good friend, a brilliant artist, and a great human being." [cite web | url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20040328-2017-ca-mexico-obit-sanchez.html | title = Associated Press, 3/28/2004]

Norwalk Incident

Adán's remains were returned to the United States, where his family scheduled a public wake on April 1, 2004 at the St. John of God church in Norwalk, California. The event drew national media attention for sparking civil unrest in the neighborhood surrounding the church that evening: Because Adán Sánchez was not well-known among English-speaking authorities, local law enforcement vastly underestimated his fan-base, and were unprepared when more than 10,000 young people jammed the streets to attend the service. Another contributing factor was the underground power of the Spanish Radio market: Popular local DJs played marathon sets of Adan's music during the days following his death, and announced the time and location of the Norwalk wake to a broad audience of young Spanish-speaking listeners.

As the day wore on, the crowd of mourners grew out of control - Police were brought in to disperse the crowd, wearing riot gear and carrying pellet guns. Their appearance incited anger among members of the crowd, who surged into the streets, overturning portable toilets and rocking cars. It was reported that Adán's aunt, Juanita Sanchez, wept about the crowd’s behavior. “Adan wouldn’t have wanted people to act like this. It just causes more pain to the family,” she said. [cite web | url=http://www.laprensa-sandiego.org/archieve/april09-04/son.htm | title = Marisela Santana, "The Son Also Falls" - 4/9/2004]

Always & Forever

"Always & Forever" is a stageplay by Michael Patrick Spillers dramatizing the impact of Adán Sánchez' death on a group of young people in South Los Angeles. The play examines various aspects of Mexican-American culture (such as quinceañeras, banda music, and Jesus Malverde), and premiered in April 2007 at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood.

Discography

*1994 "Soy el Hijo de Chalino" [http://wc06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:apfoxzl5ld6e]
*1995 "Dios Me Nego" [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:aifwxqljldse]
*1995 "Adios Amigo Del Alma"
*1996 "El Compita"
*1997 "Claveles De Enero"
*2000 "La Corona de Mi Padre" [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:a9fpxqldld0e]
*2002 "Homenaje a Mi Padre" [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0nfwxqu0ld0e]
*2002 "Siempre y Para Siempre" [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:k9fixq9aldde]
*2003 "Canta Corridos" [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3vfwxqtald0e]
*2003 "Homenaje a Mi Padre" [http://wc06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:39fqxqldld0e]
*2003 "El Soñador" [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hcfwxqwaldhe]

Posthumous:

*2004 "Amor y Lagrimas" [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gnfuxquald6e]
*2004 "En Sus Inicios, Vol. 2" [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:difrxq8sld0e]
*2004 "Mi Historia" [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gifrxqysldde]
*2004 "Mis Verdaderos Amigos" [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:f9frxqusldae]
*2005 "Si Dios Me Lleva Con El" [http://wc06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0nfqxq8sldke]
*2005 "En Vivo" [http://wc06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gxfyxq8dldde]
*2006 "Los Inmortales" [http://wc06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fpfrxqrdldke]
*2006 "A Recordando" [http://wc06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fxfyxqqrldhe]
*2006 "El Unico" [http://wc06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:d9fqxqudldke]
*2007 "Duranguense"

References

External links

* [http://www.adanchalinosanchez.com/ Official Website] (in Spanish)
* [http://www.chalino.com/artistas/adansanchez/ Adan Sanchez] [Fan Site]