Calibre 50 (Spanish pronunciation: [ka.'li.βɾe.siŋ.'kwɛn̪.ta]) is a Regional Mexican band founded in the city of Mazatlán, Sinaloa in 2010.[1] Their style is Norteño-Banda, a hybrid of Norteño, which uses an electric bass or tololoche for the low notes and replaces it with a sousaphone (tuba), which is typically used in Banda for the bass notes.
Calibre 50 | |
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![]() Calibre 50 in a 2016 concert. | |
Background information | |
Origin | Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico |
Genres | Norteño-Banda |
Years active | 2010 (2010)-present |
Labels | Andaluz Music, Disa, Universal |
Members |
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Past members |
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Website | calibre50 |
Before establishing Calibre 50, Edén Muñoz had been the accordionist and vocalist in the Norteño-banda group, Colmillo Norteño. With Muñoz, the group scored the hit songs "Sueño guajiro" and "Hotel El Cid" in 2009, among others. Nevertheless, conflicts with the other members of the band led Muñoz to quit Colmillo Norteño in early 2010, and he founded his own band later that year, recruiting Armando Ramos as guitarist and backing vocalist, Martín López as sousaphonist, and Augusto Guido as drummer. The name of this new band was "Puro Colmillo Norteño", and they recorded their first album, "Renovar o Morir", under that name, as well as their first single ("El infiernito"). However, the original Colmillo Norteño sued them over the name, and after a legal dispute Muñoz' band was forced to change their name later in 2010. They chose the name by which they are known today: Calibre 50.[2] The name of the band comes from the comparison "with an element that will symbolize the strength and impact that the project has on the lives of the members, as well as those who like the Regional Mexican genre."
Calibre 50 first achieved notoriety for their controversial songs, among them corridos. Their first nationwide hit was "El tierno se fue" ("The nice guy is gone") in 2011, a ranchera written by Lalo Ayala which contains many innuendos and describes a sexual act in detail. Throughout its history, the band has recorded different styles of songs such as rancheras, corridos, ballads, cumbias, charangas, boleros, and huapangos.
In January 2014, drummer Augusto Guido left the band to work on his own group, "Los de Sinaloa"; he was replaced by Erick García.[3] Two months later, sousaphone player Martín López also left the band to work on another project, "La Iniciativa". He was subsequently replaced by Alejandro Gaxiola.[4]
In March 2017, Calibre 50 made history when the band became the first Regional Mexican act to perform on the Conan show on an episode that took place in Mexico City.
Calibre 50 made their Rodeo Houston debut on 11 March 2018 to a sold out crowd.
On 26 April 2018, Calibre 50, along with Colombian Urban singer J Balvin, received an award from Pandora Radio for being the first artists to surpass a billion streams on that platform.[5]
In October 2020, the group broke the record for the most number-one songs on the Billboard Regional Mexican Airplay chart with 17 songs.[6] As of 2022, they have since broken their own record with five additional songs reaching No. 1, totaling 22 No. 1 songs on the Billboard Regional Mexican Airplay chart.
In late January 2022, Edén Muñoz left Calibre 50 to embark on a solo career.
On 1 March 2022, after several auditions, the band presented in a press conference their new lead vocalist, Tony Elizondo.[7]
On 8 April 2022, Calibre 50 presented in another press conference their new accordion player and additional backing vocalist, Ángel Saucedo.
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
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2012 | Premios Lo Nuestro | Mejor Artista Revelación del Año/Regional Mexicano | Won | [8] | |
2015 | Premios Juventud | Mi Letra Favorita/Música | Won | [9] | |
2015 | Premios Juventud | Mejor Tema Novelero/Novelas | Aunque ahora estés con él | Nominated | [10] |
2017 | Premios Lo Nuestro | Grupo o Dúo del Año/Regional Mexicano | Won | [11] | |
2017 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Mejor Artista de Música Regional Mexicana | Won | [12] |