Fandango

Fandango was created by Abelardo Leal in Monterrey, Mexico. Five unknown girls joined together under the record EMI in 1986. The group recorded a low-budget debut album "Contrastes", but no one was interested.

A year later with bouncy dance rhythms and colorful pastel outfits, Fandango broke into mainstream with the release of "Autos Moda Y Roll and Roll", which many refer to as the debut album. Rocio, Liliana, Moña, Evalinda and Alexa become instant successes. The title track shot to number one, along with the second single "Un Millon De Maneras De Olivdarte".

The group's follow up album, "Hola Que Tal" went straight to the top and the girls maintained their popularity and the top of the charts. Within this time, Fandango records a few songs which get featured on various compilation albums like "La Brujita Buba", "Dime Niño De Quien Eres" and "Para Ti Para Mi".

In 1988 during the promotion of "Hola Que Tal", Alexa left the group to pursue a "normal" life. Soon after Evalinda left for the same reasons. Their replacements were Janett and Sandra. To welcome the new members, the group released their third album entitled "Fandango" (or better known to fans as "Sueños Magicos"). The songs "Sueños Magicos" and "Ritmo Del Amor" both made it to the charts, but never made it to number one. After the promotion was over for the group's current album, EMI decided not to renew the group's contract due to "lack of popularity", which was not entirely true. The girls and Abelardo realized that EMI was not putting the same amount of promotion and publicity into the group. It looked as if Fandango would be disbanding (and not by choice).

Just as EMI was losing interest in Fandango, a businessman from Los Angeles was gaining interest. Seeing potential for the group, Ronald Correa went to Monterrey to have a meeting with Abelardo and the girls. This meeting was a success and the group would continue with or without EMI, but it would be without two of the original members. Liliana and Moña left the group. Liliana went back to school to study fashion, but Moña stayed around as Abelardo's wife. Ronald knew that the group needed some fresh faces, so he looked to a younger crowd and placed Anabella and Marlene as replacements.

Without a record label, the group would need to prove to everyone that they had what it took get back on the charts. Ronald saw the girls breaking into the American market; but to get noticed again, they would need to go back to beginning and perform at the free open air festivals in Los Angeles. And they did.

Almost every music festival in Los Angeles in 1990 had Fandango as one of the many performers.

In December 1990, Fandango did something that was unexpected. The group was featured in "Teen" magazine which was released in the USA, something that no other Latin artist had done. This captured the attention of both EMI and Sony Music. Two offers were back on the table and it was time to decide which to take. The group decided to sign for another album with EMI and "Volver A Ser Feliz" was released in 1991.

The group filmed two commercials for the store which aired through the 1991 Holiday season. After the recording of the commercials, Abelardo Leal decided that Fandango was finished and ended his partnership with Ronald. Thus ending the history of Fandango.



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