La Sombra de Chicago or La Sombra de Tony Guerrero is a Tejano band originally from Chicago, IL. The group was widely popular during the late 1980s and most of the 1990s, often described as "the number one show band in the U.S.A." and "the world." La Sombra is credited with over 20 major studio releases from 1984 to 1996. Although the band originated from suburban Aurora, Illinois, they gained national acclaim when they moved their base from the Chicago area to Corpus Christi, Texas. Numerous appearances on the nationally syndicated "The Johnny Canales Show" garnered them a tremendous following that enabled them to be dubbed "The Number One showband" of their time.
"La Sombra" was fronted by founder Tony Guerrero, who along with younger brother Gavino, gave the group its distinctive break-through sound.
The group's high-energy sound and stage presentation garnered them national prestige through the late 1980s and early 90's. After a variety of line-up changes, "La Sombra" released their last original recording in 1995(Numerous greatest hits compilations have followed).
The style and energy "La Sombra" introduced to the fairly conservative world of the cumbia and tejano music scenes is still felt some 25 years after their record breaking success. The widely popular "Kumbis Kings"( who have since disbanded to a variety of Urban pop-tejano ventures) credit "La Sombra" as their influence for the flamboyant in-your-face musical presentation. Founding members of Kumbia Kings Cruz Martinez and Alex Ramirez were members of "La Sombra" during the band's final recording years.
Discography Mi Guerita Coca-Cola (1984) Where's the Beef? (1984) No Hay Derecho (1985) Eres Tu-Muchachita (1985) Sombra Love (1985) Botoncito De Cariño (1986) All I Could Do Was Cry (1986) From the Streets of Chicago (1987) La Rebelde (1987) Strikes Again (1988) Chicago's Wild Side (1988) One of a Kind (1989) The Chi-Town Boys R Back (1989) Good Boys Wear White (1990) Porque Te Quiero (1991) Intocable (1992) Ilusiones (1993) Caliente Dulce Amor (1994) Mas Que Todo (1995) Alborotados (1997) Todo Me Recuerda a Ti (1999) Compilations Double Shot (1988) Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (1990) Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1991) Awesome (1991) The Greatest Show on Earth (1991) Lo Mejor (1993) 10th Anniversary (1994) Our Very Best (1995) Las Mejores Cumbias (1995) 30 Greatest Hits (1997) 30 Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (2000) In Concert (2001) 30 Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (2002) The Original Recordings (2004) Mano a Mano (2004) 20 Exitos de Recuerdo (2005) The Original Recordings 2 (2005) Band members Tony Guerrero - Lead Vocals, Accordion Gavino Guerrero - Lead and Background Vocals, Trumpet Cruz Guerrero - Keyboard, Background Vocals Albert "Tiger" Diaz - Trumpet, Saxophone Rene Limas - Keyboard Jesse Huerta - Drums, Background Vocals Jose "Pepper" Gonzales - Guitars Harvey Gonzales - Bass Guitar, Background Vocals Alex Ramirez - Keyboard, Accordion Ray Talamantez Jr. - Trumpet, Saxophone Alex (Chuco) Gutierrez- Keyboards, Vocals Adam Vargas - Guitars Cruz Martínez - Keyboard Andrew Maes - Background Vocals Bobby Rios - Bass Guitar Roland Gutierrez - Keyboard Jesse Colon - Trumpet (1981–1984)
