1. Los Destellos: Descarga Electrica
Under the direction of lead guitarist Enrique Delgado, Los Destellos (the sparkles, like a star) are pretty much known as the founders of Cumbia Peruana circa 1966. Now I am pretty sceptical about using the word chicha to define their genre of music. I feel that chicha is more associated with 70’s and 80’s transient Andean cumbia, a music that is probably rooted more in Amerindian sounds, beliefs and the harshness of the Amerindian experience (hardship, displacement, lament). Whether they influenced the chicha movement later on or became part of it by default, I’m not 100% sure. However, Los Destellos appear to be more part of the Lima Mestizo culture (mixture of Indian/Spanish blood). And can be reflected in the way which their sounds fuse Latin boogaloo, psychedelic rock, soul, Colombian cumbia, tropical and indigenous music in a whole host of ways.
2. Los Destellos: Cumbia Morena
3. Los Destellos: Boogaloo De Los Destellos
Charangos(Andean mandolins), requintos, and guitars are a huge part of Peruvian musical culture. Tavern life is filled with them supposedly. So any transition to a modern sound would probably have been seem-less for a group like the guitar laden Destellos. And Peruvian music at this time seems to really embrace the electric guitar. The Cumbia Morenais a great example of them playing a traditional Colombian cumbia with this more electric sound. Whereas, the Boogaloo De Los Destellos almost sounds like a Latin version of the American psychedelic rock band The Byrds. With an electric 12 string and the highly melodic guitar playing, it reminded me instantly of Roger Mcguinn’s style.
4. Los Destellos: Me Resignare
The albums I’m posting are in order by catalogue number. I have a few other LP’s that should be in this group, but I have seemed to have misplaced them. Maybe I’ll amend this post if I ever find them. But for the most part this is pretty good discography and I am trying to run the entire gamut of sounds Los Detellos produced. On a side note I know that from looking at some of the musicians in the band that they show up in other groups on the Odeon/Iempsa label. The dude playing the bongos is in Los Orientales De Paramonga. Perhaps they were session musicians at the time.
5. Los Destellos: Carnaval De Arequipa
6. Los Destellos: Boogaloo Del Perro
Arequipa is a the second largest city in Peru and is way up in the Andean Mountains. This song is a pretty traditional number. You’re probably more likely to hear this tune being played by Andean pan-pipe and poncho musicians. Definitely on the chicha tip this one.
7. Los Destellos: Noche De Garua
Garuais the dry winds that hit the lower western slopes of the Andes creating a low-level of cloud. Within the Andes Mountains the garua blocks out the sun for the cooler six months of the year, and there is almost no rainfall during this period. With the title, this instrumental song sounds almost like something the Ventures would do. Surf/garage music was pretty big in Peru in the early 60’s. Groups like Los Saicos, Los Shains, Los Yorks, Los Doltons are to name a few.
9. Los Destellos: El Electrico
10: Los Destellos: La Cumbia Del Sol
11. Los Destellos: Tu Donde Estas
Hands down my all time favorite record of Los Destellos. In fact, I like it so much I began to eat to lower right hand corner of the album cover. Peep the break beat ballad Tu Donde Estas (where are you?), it’s a hip-hop track waiting to be copped.
12. Los Destellos: Constelacion
13. Los Destellos: Pachanga Espanola
I probably have 3 more Los Destellos records, but like always, their later stuff just isn’t as good. Apparently Los Destellos had a resurgence of popularity in the 80’s that lasted until Enrique Delgado died in the early 90’s. The band still performs today, but I believe it’s the widowed wife of Enrique who runs the band now. If I find any more records of theirs, I’ll amend the post. Also, thanks to all the Japanese viewers as of late who have been vibing this site. Word!
Super Sonido 
not japan but yet further Nz calling. thanks so much for the los destellos post, brilliant, love their stuff and was fiending to hear more. thanks so much for all the work that obviously goes into your blogging and digging.
Jim thanks for the kind words. I hope you are enjoying this one way down in New Zealand (man i want to go there. someday). There’s enough tracks here to make your own little comp cd. Enjoy! Saludos!!!
Franko
right on!
Wow. These guys are incredible. Thanks for digging these out.
Best,
Scott
Thanks for the post. Amazingly, I thought exactly the same thing with the break of tu donde estas! 🙂
I dont know if they are chicha or not. Some songs sound very chicha like Para Elisa, Patricia… no?
From what I understand the term “chicha” came way later. Although the Destellos are definately some of the originators of that sound. They just really crossed over all sorts of different music styles.
hi,
Do you know when De donde estas was released? thanks, I’m just curious to know if it’s an early one because it sounds very like nova ola, and not like cumbia at all.
After all these years ( i am 25 ) I still love this psychedelic sound
To all those confused young generation, chicha is a peruvian beverage (chicha morada and chicha de jora). The tropical music played by Los Destellos and their generation had been known as a “cumbia peruana” because their main instrument was the electric guitars, different from cumbia colombiana.
The latest tropical version is a fusion of more huayno than tropical and can be called cumbia andina not chicha.
I prefer the old version of cumbia peruana; each band had their own style, tune and their songs were meaningful in other words, anyone could know who is who just by listening the song.
Now, the band leader is Enrique’s sister. Personally I don’t like the new version of Los Destellos they don’t have the swing they used to had.
By the way thanks for the songs, keep posting.
You’re so wrong;-) The difference between the old cumbia and the new cumbia is true, but the new one with huayno flavor is definitely called chicha… even it’s also the name of a beverage.
http://apellidosperuanos.wordpress.com/chicha-peruana/
I pretty much delineate all this in the first few sentences of this post. I have to agree with Boebis. There definately was a genre of cumbia music in peru called chicha, and yes i know its also a name for a drink. I have tons of music from peru that refers to itself as chica. Look at it this way – Chicha is basically Cumbia Peruana or music like Los Destellos on more of a huayno or cholo tip. And yes its even played with electric guitars and sometime spoken in quechua. Read Dj Lengua’s post here:
https://supersonido.net/2010/02/06/day-6-pepito-quechua/
Boogaloo Del Peru is basically the best shit ever! I can die a happy man now…
Great Pictures.
yo solo puedo decir estos musicos que son de la puta mare ellos son los papas de la musica PERUANA
La Empresa SICODELIA DELGADO MONTES rinde Homenaje al rey de la cumbia Peruana ya que Enrique Delgado junto a Tito Caycho y su esposo Fernando Quiroz el padre de Ashley Roxana Quiroz CREARON LA CUMBIA PERUANA, COMUNICAN, a LAS EMPRESAS, INSTITUCIONES, ASOCIACIONES, Y PARTICULARES QUE LOS CONTRATOS DE ORQUESTA INTERNACIONAL SICODELIA DELGADO MONTES CON EX INTEGRANTES DE LOS DESTELLOS Y LOS CONTRATOS CON EL GRUPO MUSICAL ADRENALINA SON DIRECTOS CON LA DIRECTORA SICODELIA DELGADO MONTES HERMANA DELIA DE ENRIQUE DELGADO MONTES Y CON SRTA ASHLEY ROXANA QUIROZ DELGADO PARA EL GRUPO ADRENALINA 9937-33885 / 148*1878 / 382-5518 / 99991-3360
Empresas INTERESADAS EN CONTRATAR el Espectáculo de LOS EX INTEGRANTES DE LOS DESTELLOS ES SABIDO PUBLICAMENTE que asi como EL MAESTRO TITO CAYCHO y el maestro Fernando Quiroz y otros ex integrantes no son considerados ni reconocidos como deberian serlo por ser patrimonio musical de nuestro Pais Verdaderos Creadores de la Cumbia Peruana, asi que aclaramos A LA OPINION PUBLICA que nosotros tenemos esa labor y mision muy arraigada y estamos comprometidos con ello.
Existen muchos grupos en el mercado de la Cumbia DE eX INTEGRANTES asi POR EJEMPLO como Alma Bella y Agua Bella, Kaliente y Somos Kaliente, Super Kaliente, Los Villacorta y Los Hermanos Villacorta, Juaneco y su Combo I y II, Alegria I II y III, y asi un sin fin de grupos de ex intengrantes que siguen vigentes, apreciando que hay mercado y publico para todos pero que la diferencia esta en QUE LOS ORIGINALES SIEMPRE SERAN LOS ORIGINALES POR QUE LO QUE ELLOS HICIERON NO PUEDE SER IMITADO NI SUPLANTADO.
Just bought my first Los Destellos album accidently in Alaska of all places. It is the coolest thing I’ve ever heard. I just found your sight searching for info on the band. The album I bought is Clase…Aparte. It rocks.
SOMOS EL GRUPO ADRENALINA CON LA SOBRINA DE ENRIQUE DELGADO ASHLEY ROCKSANA QUIROZ DELGADO “LA REYNA DE LA CUMBIA ROCK” UN NUEVO ESTILO ÚNICO FRESCO Y JUVENIL FUSIONADO CON LA EXPERIENCIA ANTIGUA DE LOS EX INTEGRANTES DE LOS DESTELLOS COMO SU PADRE EL SEÑOR FERNANDO QUIROZ GUITARRISTA ORIGINAL FUNDADOR DE LOS VERDADEROS DESTELLOS DE ENRIQUE DELGADO , SEGUIMOS DELEITANDO A LAS MULTITUDES CON LO NUEVO Y LO MEJOR DE LA CUMBIA PERUANA PARA EL PERÚ Y EL MUNDO AL RITMO DE ELSA JARDÍN DE AMOR, MUCHACHITA CELOSA, A LOS BOSQUES ME INTERNO YO, Y MUCHO MAS!!
CONTRATOS DIRECTOS CON ASHLEY ROCKSNA QUIROZ DELGADO A LOS TELEFONOS: 993733885 – 999913360 – 98 148*1878 – 3825518 VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoVIswng3IM
http://adrenalina.tk/ Email: sicodeliaperu@hotmail.com
igualmente contamos con la Orquesta Delia Delgado Montes
ASHLEY ROCKSANA AGRADECE A TODA SU GENTE DE PROVINCIAS, BREÑA , SAN JUAN DE MIRAFLORES, LINCE, LA MOLINA, BARRANCO, SAN MIGUEL, JESUS MARIA, RIMAC, SAN MARTIN DE PORRES, SAN JUAN DE LURIGANCHO, LOS OLIVOS, COMAS, LIMA NORTE Y A TODO EL PERU Y EL MUNDO POR SUS MENSAJES Y SUS LLAMADAS AL 993733885 PARA PEDIR LOS INFORMACION DE NUESTRO GRUPO MUSICAL ADRENALINA DE ASHLEY ROCKSANA LA VERDADERA REINA DE NUESTRA CUMBIA PERUANA ROCK!!
Boogaloo de el perro ; bery good!!