Al Hurricane- Al Hurricane was born on July 10, 1936 in Dixon, New Mexico. His birth name is Alberto Nelson Sanchez. Hurricane was a nickname given to him by his mother because he was like a little Hurricane, always knocking things over at the dinner table and objects in his path. His father’s name is Jose Margarito Sanchez who died in 1979, and his mother’s name is Bennie L. Sanchez and is currently living in Albuquerque, NM.
Hurricane grew up in different parts of New Mexico and Arizona. He’s lived in Ojo Sarco, NM, where his father was from, Bayard, NM, Jerome, AZ, and finally moved and settled to Albuquerque in 1947. Hurricane started singing at an early age, approximately 3 years old, and started playing the guitar at 5 years old. His Mom showed him how to play a song on one string of the guitar. When his Dad came home, Hurricane showed him what he had learned and his Dad said, "very good mi hito, now let me show you how to play the song on two strings." At the age of 12, he was singing and playing guitar at the wishing well in Old Town, next to La Placita, for tips. He also had a job at La Placita as a bus boy and then waiter. He quit his job at La Placita and worked as a waiter at the Sky Line Club. Quite ironically, the Sky Line Club later became know as the Far West Night Club, where Hurricane performed for many years. Hurricane attended numerous schools while growing up and graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1954.
Hurricane has had many nicknames and names for his band over the years. They have been billed as “Al Banana and his Bunch”, “The Night Rockers” (which stayed for a long while), and most recently as “The Al Hurricane Band." Al himself as been billed as Albert Nelson, Bert Nelson, The Little King of Rock & Roll, and ultimately as El Godfather, La Leyenda de Nuevo Mexico--The Legend of New Mexico. He has been making music and has had his band for over 50 years. Al has recorded 30 albums, starting with his first in 1967, “Mi Saxophone,” and his latest release in 2003, “Que Viva EL Godfather.” Hurricane has had several 1 Hits throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and throughout the Southwest. He also recorded under the group name “Bandido” on Discos Musart and EMI Capitol labels. A few of the recordings with Bandido were 1 Hits in Chicago and Los Angeles, as well as in New Mexico, Colorado and throughout the Southwest.
Hurricane has played guitar for such legendary artists such as Fats Domino and Marvin Gaye. Hurricane’s band has also backed up artists such as Chuck Berry, Jimmy Clanton, & Chubby Checker. Al's tourdates have included locations such as: Chicago, Miami, Asuncion, Paraguay, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Malaga, Spain, with the majority having taken place in the Southwest and Western United States.
Hurricane owned a recording studio in Albuquerque, which contained equipment that Buddy Holly recorded on, and was purchased from Norman Petty. He still owns a recording studio but has been updated with new equipment. He also co-owned a nightclub known as the Far West.
The loss of his right eye came as a result of a car accident on November 1, 1969, on the way to a performance in Denver, CO. There were six people, (band members) in the car, including Al. He was the only one seriously hurt. Another member of the band broke his arm and needed a couple of stitches on the top of his head. But, the accident and the new eye patch didn’t stop the music.
Hurricane’s birthday is July 10, his Zodiac Sign is Cancer, Favorite Color is Teal Green, Favorite NFL team is the Dallas Cowboys, and he loves all sports. Hurricane loves eating beans and tortillas and going to the movies. Of course, one of his biggest loves is being on stage and performing. He also has a true devotion to recording. According to Al, he would record every single day if he were able to.
Hurricane has been married twice, but is now currently single. He has eight children, with seven still living. The oldest is Al Jr. The rest are as follows: Darlene, Sandra & Jerry Dean, from Hurricane’s first marriage. Nelson, Erika, Danielle & Lynnea from Hurricane’s second marriage. Danielle & Lynnea are twins. Lynnea was killed when she was 2 years old.
Hurricane has won numerous awards, such as The Lifetime Achievement Award given to him by the New Mexico Hispanic Awards Association, the Governor’s Award for Music in 1993, and May 5, 2002 was named Al Hurricane and Family Day.
The latest release on CD from Al Hurricane is expected this early fall of 2006.
Al Hurricane Jr.- Al Hurricane, Jr. was born to Alberto Nelson Sanchez (Al Hurricane) and Nettie M. Fleming on October 30, 1959 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His birth name is Alberto Nelson Sanchez, Jr. Hurricane is a nickname inherited from his father.
Al, Jr. grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico throughout many parts of the city including: Old Town, 19th and Marble, the West Side, Academy Acres and finally settling in the North East Heights.
His first public performance was at the early age of 5 at the Civic Auditorium in Albuquerque. The song he sang for the audience that night was "Love Potion 9." Early in his youth, he began to learn the drums and switched to guitar lessons at age 5. From guitar lessons he then began to learn the trumpet at age 8.
In July 1970, Al, Jr.'s parents divorced and he decided to live with his father. At the age of 12, his father entered him into piano lessons while he continued playing the trumpet in school bands, such as the symphonic and the jazz band. This is when Al, Jr. started to learn some of his father's songs as well as those of his uncle's, Tiny Morrie and Baby Gaby. This eventually led to him joining the Al Hurricane Band. He started out by going and playing just one song, then two, and then his repetoire grew from there. Most of his practice was from performances at the Far West Night Club where he and his dad performed for many years.
Al, Jr. attended many schools while growing up in Albuquerque. From grades 1-5 he attended Lavaland Elementary, then he was at John Adams Middle School for 6th grade and transferred to Cleveland Middle School for 7th grade. Another family move prompted the transfer to Jefferson Middle School for 8th and 9th grade. For his final three years of high school, Al, Jr. attended and graduated from Highland High School in May 1976 at the age of 16. After graduation, Al, Jr. chose to take a year off before going on to college, which to this day he admits was a mistake. However, his decision to work with his dad was not a mistake. It was the beginning of a partnership that continues to this day.
Along the way in his career, Al, Jr. has acquired many nicknames such as: El Joven, The Godson of New Mexico, and Berb. He was only 14 years old when he recorded his first song, "El Pintor," and has been performing with his dad's band for 30 years. He has recorded and released 6 solo albums, starting in 1976 with "El Joven" and the latest release in 2006 "Sin Duda, Mejor Que Nunca." His song "Flor de las Flores" was voted the 1 song 10 years running on 89.1 KANW-FM. In addition to his solo albums, he has recorded 4 with his father: Al Hurricane / Al Hurricane, Jr. Cantan Corridos, and the other 3 under the group name "Bandido" with the international Latin labels, Discos Musart and EMI Capitol. Al, Jr. is also a main musician on his father's recordings, supplying trumpet, valve trombone, keyboards, keyboard bass, and has programmed drums. His trumpet and valve trombone were also featured on the recordings of Tiny Morrie and Baby Gaby.
When Al, Jr. made his first recordings in the Hurricane Studios in Albuquerque, it was on the very equipment that Buddy Holly used in Clovis, NM. Today, Al, Jr. records in his father's recording studio with new state of the art equipment.
Al, Jr. and the Hurricane Band have toured in such places as: Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; Asuncion; Paraguay; Buenos Aires; Argentina; and Malaga, Spain, but with the majority taking place in the Southwestern United States.
Fun Facts
Birthday: October 30
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Favorite color: Doesn't have one
Favorite NFL team: The Dallas Cowboys
Hobbies: Hunting, Fishing, Playing Golf
Favorite cologne: Toss up between Hugo and LeMale
Favorite attire: Jeans (Levis, CK's, or Wranglers)
Enjoys all sports, not a picky eater (loves Mom and Grandma's cooking)
Enjoys going to the movies
Loves being on the stage and performing with his role model and inspiration, his father
Al, Jr. is divorced and has three children, all girls.
The oldest is 16 year old Samantha Desiree Sanchez and she is now a Junior, 11th Grade at Sandia High School. The next daughter is 14 year old Alexis Raquel Sanchez and is in the 9th grade. The youngest daughter is 11 year old Alyssa Victoria Sanchez and attends Arroyo del Oso in the 6th grade.
Al, Jr. has won many awards in music. The Amarillo Music Festival named him the most outstanding high school trumpet player in the Southwest during his junior and senior years. He was also selected by his high school music teacher to represent Highland High School and perform with the U.S. Armed Forces Bicentennial Band at Popejoy Hall. At Cinco de Mayo 2002, the State of New Mexico declared May 5, 2002 as Al Hurricane, Al Hurricane, Jr. and Family Day. He has also been named as an honorary citizen of Denver, CO and Salt Lake City, UT.
