Trini Lopez | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lopez in 1963 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Trinidad López III |
| Born | (1937-05-15)May 15, 1937 Dallas,Texas, U.S. |
| Died | August 11, 2020(2020-08-11) (aged 83) Palm Springs, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1959–2020 |
| Labels | |
| Website | trinilopez |
Trinidad López III (May 15, 1937 – August 11, 2020), known asTrini Lopez, was an American singer and guitarist.[1] His first album included acover version ofPete Seeger's "If I Had a Hammer", which earned a gold disc for him. His other hits included "Lemon Tree", "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" and "Sally Was a Good Old Girl". He designed two guitars for theGibson Guitar Corporation, which are nowcollectors' items. A documentary on his life and career,My Name Is Lopez, was released in April 2022.
Lopez was born inDallas,Texas, on May 15, 1937, to Trinidad López II, who worked as a singer, dancer, actor, and musician in Mexico, and Petra González. His parents married in their hometown ofMoroleón,Guanajuato, prior to moving to Dallas.[2] Lopez had four sisters (two are deceased) and a brother, Jesse, who is also a singer. He grew up on Ashland Street in theLittle Mexico neighborhood of Dallas[3] and attended grammar school andN. R. Crozier Tech High School.[2] He dropped out of high school in his senior year in order to earn money to help support the family.[2][4]
Lopez formed his first band inWichita Falls, Texas, at the age of 15. Around 1955/56, Lopez and his band worked at The Vegas Club, a nightclub owned byJack Ruby, the man who assassinatedLee Harvey Oswald.[5] In 1957, at the recommendation ofBuddy Holly's father, Trini and his group "The Big Beats" went to producerNorman Petty inClovis, New Mexico. Petty secured a contract for them withColumbia Records, which released the single "Clark's Expedition"/"Big Boy", both instrumental. Lopez left the group and made his first solo recording, his own composition "The Right To Rock", for the Dallas-based Volk Records, and then signed withKing Records in 1959, recording more than a dozen singles for that label, none of which reached any musical hit parade.
In late 1962, after the King contract expired, Lopez followed up on an offer by producerSnuff Garrett to join the post-Holly Crickets as vocalist. After a few weeks of auditions in Los Angeles, that idea did not go through. He landed a steady engagement at the nightclub PJ's, where his audience grew quickly. He was heard there byFrank Sinatra, who had started his own label,Reprise Records, and who subsequently signed Lopez.[6]
His debut live album,Trini Lopez at PJ's (R/RS 6093), was released in 1963.[7] The album included aversion ofPete Seeger's "If I Had a Hammer", which reachednumber one in 36 countries (no. 3 in the United States), and was a radio favorite for many years. It sold over one million copies and was awarded agold disc.[8] He also performed his own version of the traditional Mexican song "La Bamba" on the album; hisrecording of the tune was later reissued as a single in 1966.[2] Another live album from PJ's was recorded later that same year under the titleBy Popular Demand More Trini Lopez at PJ's (R/RS 6103),[2] which contains the songGreen, Green which was written byRandy Sparks andBarry McGuire and originally recorded bythe New Christy Minstrels earlier that year for their Columbia albumRamblin.[9]
Lopez scored 13chart singles through 1968, including "Lemon Tree" (1965), "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" (1966), and "Sally Was a Good Old Girl" (1968). Later in 2013, Lopez toldPortland Magazine, "People ask about 'Lemon Tree' all the time. It's one of my most favorite requested songs. It's a very catchy tune. I just happen to like the chorus."[10] On the adult contemporary chart, he racked up 15 hits, including thetop-10 singles "Michael" (1964), "Gonna Get Along Without Ya' Now" (1967), and "The Bramble Bush" (1967), which he sang in the movieThe Dirty Dozen. Beyond his success onrecord, he became one of the country's topnightclub performers of that era, regularly headlining inLas Vegas. In 1968, he recorded an album in Nashville entitledWelcome to Trini Country (R/RS 6300).[11]
Lopez produced a single promoting the Coca-Cola soft drinkFresca in 1967.[12] In 1969, NBC aired a Trini Lopez variety special featuring surf guitar groupThe Ventures, andNancy Ames as guests.[13] The soundtrack, released asThe Trini Lopez Show, has him singing his hits with The Ventures as his backing band.[2]
He continued his musical career with extensivetours of Europe and Latin America during this period; an attempt to break out by releasing adisco album in 1978 proved a flop.
In 2002, Lopez teamed withArt Greenhaw forLegacy: My Texas Roots. The album used the "Texas Roots Combo" including Lopez, Greenhaw, and Lopez's brother, Jesse.[14] Said reviewer Steve Leggett ofAllMusic, "The album has an easygoing feel very similar to Lopez's classic live sets from the 1960s, only it rocks a good deal harder."[15] Thereafter, Lopez focused oncharitable work.[16]
Lopez was still recording and appearing live in the years leading up to his death. He took part in abenefit concert to raise money for the victims of the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake andtsunami,[17] and appeared as a guest performer in a number of shows held inMaastricht in theNetherlands with the Dutch violinist and composerAndré Rieu.[18] He continued to record;El Inmortal was released in 2010, and the following year he released his 65th album,Into The Future.[2][19]
Lopez' popularity led theGibson Guitar Corporation to ask him in 1964 to design a guitar for them. He ended up designing two: the Trini Lopez Standard,[20] arock and roll model based on theGibson ES-335 semihollow body, and the Lopez Deluxe,[21] a variation of a Gibson jazz guitar designed byBarney Kessel. Both of these guitars were in production from 1964 until 1971, and are now highly sought-after among collectors.[2] Owners of the guitar includeDave Grohl ofFoo Fighters[22] andNoel Gallagher ofOasis.[2]
During the 1960s and 1970s, Lopez moved into acting, though his film career was not as successful as his music.[2] Lopez's first film role was inMarriage on the Rocks (1965), in which he made acameo appearance in a nightclub scene; Lopez's soundtrack song, "Sinner Man", became a hit single (no. 54 pop/no. 12 adult contemporary). He was one ofThe Dirty Dozen (1967), appeared as himself inThe Phynx (1970), and played the title role inClaudio Guzman'sAntonio (1973). He made two appearances (playing different characters) on the television programAdam-12. In 1977, he played the role of Julio Ramirez in "The Mystery of the Silent Scream", an episode ofThe Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries TV series.[23][24]
Lopez remained a lifelongbachelor and had no children.[2] His nephew, Trini Martinez, was the drummer for the Dallas indie rock bandBedhead.[27]
Lopez died on August 11, 2020, atDesert Regional Medical Center inPalm Springs, California.[4] He was 83, and developed complications fromCOVID-19 amidst theCOVID-19 pandemic in California.[28][29]
| Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated | Chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | CB | US AC | UK | US R&B | CAN | |||
| 1958 | "The Right to Rock" b/w "Just Once More" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Teenage Love Songs |
| 1959 | "Rock On" b/w "It Hurts to Be in Love" (fromTeenage Love Songs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| "Yes You Do" b/w "My Runaway Heart" (fromTeenage Love Songs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Rock On" b/w "Since I Don't Have You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Love Me Tonight" b/w "Here Comes Sally" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Teenage Love Songs | |
| "I'm Grateful" b/w "Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "(Won't You Be) My Queen for a Day" b/w "Yes You Do" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Nobody Loves Me" bw "Nobody Listens to Our Teenage Problems" (fromTeenage Love Songs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1960 | "Jeanie Marie" b/w "Schemer" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Teenage Love Songs |
| "The Search Goes On" b/w "It Hurts to Be in Love" (fromTeenage Love Songs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album track | |
| "Then You Know (You've Been in Love)" b/w "Don't Treat Me That Way" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Teenage Love Songs | |
| 1961 | "You Broke the Only Heart" b/w "One Heart, One Life, One Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Rosita" b/w "Only in My Dreams" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Trini Lopez & Johnny Tores | |
| 1962 | "Sinner Not a Saint" b/w "Where Can My Baby Be" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1963 | "Jeanie Marie" b/w "Love Me Tonight" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Teenage Love Songs |
| "Don't Go" b/w "It Seems" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "A-Me-Ri-Ca" b/w "Let It Be Known" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "La Bamba" (Part I) b/w "La Bamba" (Part II) (Non-album track) | — | 123 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "If I Had a Hammer" b/w "Unchain My Heart" | 3 | 3 | — | 4 | 12 | — | Trini Lopez at PJ's | |
| "Kansas City" | 23 | 26 | 13 | 35 | — | — | By Popular Demand!! More Trini Lopez at PJ's | |
| "Lonesome Traveler" | — | 135 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "La Bamba" b/w "Granada" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Trini Lopez at PJ's | |
| "Nobody Loves Me" b/w "The Club for Broken Hearts" (fromTeenage Love Songs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album track | |
| 1964 | "Sinner Not a Saint" b/w "If" | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | Trini Lopez & Johnny Tores |
| "Jailer, Bring Me Water" b/w "You Can't Say Goodbye" | 94 | 106 | — | — | — | — | On the Move | |
| "What Have I Got of My Own" b/w "Ya Ya" | 43 | 51 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Michael" b/w "San Francisco De Assisi" (fromThe Second Latin Album) | 42 | 41 | 7 | — | — | — | The Folk Album | |
| 1965 | "Lemon Tree" b/w "Pretty Eyes" | 20 | 22 | 2 | — | — | — | |
| "Sad Tomorrows" b/w "I've Lost My Love for You" (Non-album track) | 94 | 81 | 22 | — | — | — | The Love Album | |
| "Are You Sincere" b/w "You'll Be Sorry" | 85 | 110 | 25 | — | — | 20 | ||
| "Sinner Man" b/w "Double Trouble" (fromThe Rhythm & Blues Album) | 54 | 64 | 12 | — | — | — | Trini Lopez Plays and Sings | |
| "Regresa A Mi" b/w "Mi Felicidad" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| 1966 | "Made in Paris" b/w "Pretty Little Girl" | 113 | 113 | 36 | — | — | — | |
| "The Search Goes On" b/w "Chain of Love" (fromTeenage Love Songs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" b/w "The 32nd of May" | 39 | 48 | 2 | 28 | — | 23 | Trini | |
| "La Bamba Pt. 1" b/w "Trini's Tune" (fromTrini) | 86 | 100 | 9 | — | — | 78 | Greatest Hits | |
| "Pancho Lopez" b/w "Hall of Fame" (fromGreatest Hits) | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Second Latin Album | |
| "Takin' the Back Roads" / | — | tag | — | — | — | — | Trini Lopez in London | |
| "Your Ever Changin' Mind" | — | 131 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1967 | "Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now" b/w "Love Letters" | 93 | 93 | 6 | 41 | — | — | |
| "Up to Now" b/w "In the Land of Plenty" (fromTrini Lopez – Now!) | 123 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "The Bramble Bush" b/w "The Ballad of the Dirty Dozen" | — | 117 | 4 | — | — | — | ||
| "Together" b/w "I Wanna Be Free" (fromTrini Lopez – Now!) | — | — | 30 | — | — | — | ||
| "It's a Great Life" b/w "Let's Take A Walk" | — | — | — | — | — | — | It's a Great Life | |
| 1968 | "Sally Was a Good Old Girl" b/w "It's a Great Life" | 99 | 106 | 30 | — | — | — | |
| "Mental Journey" b/w "Good Old Mountain Dew" | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | Welcome to Trini Country | |
| "Malagueña Salerosa" b/w "Something Tells Me" | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "El Nino Del Tambor (The Little Drummer Boy)" b/w "Noche De Paz (Silent Night adaption) / Let There Be Peace" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1969 | "Come a Little Bit Closer" b/w "Pata Cum Cum" (first pressings) "My Baby Loves Sad Songs" (later pressings) | 121 | — | — | — | — | — | The Whole Enchilada |
| "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" b/w "My Baby Loves Sad Songs" | 133 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Love Story" b/w "Games People Play" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| 1970 | "Five O'Clock World" b/w "You Make My Day" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Mexican Medicine Man" b/w "Time to Get It Together" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Mexican Medicine Man" b/w "Su-Kal-De-Don" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Let's Think About Living" b/w "There Was a Crooked Man" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971 | "Some Kind of Summer" b/w "Poor Old Billy" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1972 | "Ruby Mountain" b/w "Y Volvere" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Viva |
| 1973 | "Butterfly" b/w "Don't Burn Your Bridges Behind You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1975 | "We Gotta Make It Together" b/w "Bring Back the Sunshine" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like" b/w "Sweet Life" | — | 76 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977 | "Sha-La-Boom-Boom-Yeah" b/w "Satisfaction" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "You Say Something Nice" b/w "Sittin' Pretty in Atlantic City" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Helplessly" b/w "Beautiful People" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Transformed by Time | |
| 1978 | "Helplessly" b/w "Trini's Medley" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Sources:[11][30] | ||||||||
Most albums are on the Reprise label, unless otherwise indicated.[11][30]
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1965 | Marriage on the Rocks | Himself | |
| 1966 | The Poppy Is Also a Flower | Himself | |
| 1967 | The Dirty Dozen | Pedro Jiminez | |
| 1970 | The Phynx | Himself | |
| 1973 | Antonio | Antonio Contreras | |
| 1995 | Prima Donnas | Himself | |
