Los 007 & Conexion No. 5 - Los 007 & Conexion No. 5

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Los 007

Peruvian band, not to be confused with the Venezuelian combo Los 007 

Peruvian band, not to be confused with the Venezuelian combo Los 007 

Sometimes, when they talk about Peruvian rock, they mistakenly believe that it had its beginnings only in the 80s, even some who think they are connoisseurs put it as the 70's, the year that the rock generation begins in Peru. But it is actually at the beginning of the 60's when many groups began little by little to be carried away by the impulse of many British bands (here in Peru, Elvis Presley was not so emulated) and they started that new generation of rockers. Many of these bands leave us very good LP's or 45's, which sometimes end up forgotten, or only remembered by some relatives with a few years on top. And that happens to me. My mother, a fan of the old "matinales", had the pleasure of seeing these new groups, with their new styles and rhythms, and ended up unintentionally instilling their music that I remember to this day. And I could mention many groups, including one already mentioned in this blog such as "Los Saicos", "Los Dolton's", Los Silverston's "and the list goes on forever. But I can't deny that when I started listening to Sixties groups, the one that caught my attention quickly were "Los 007". Not to be confused with "Los 007" from Venenzuela, which also had success almost at the same time. This quintet was formed in Lima in 1966, and its members they were:

VLADI CHACON: Voice and Lead Guitar

MARCO RODRIGUES: Electronic Bass

ENRIQUE PALACIOS: Second Guitar

CARLOS SERRA: Drums

OCTAVIO FIGUEROA: Electronic organ

At the end of the 60s (1968), they began to use tambourine and bongo in their compositions, which differentiated them from the groups of that time, and opened the way for new creations. Unfortunately, due to the political situation, rock from the first half of the seventies happened to be crossed out as alienated and "gringa" music, and several bands had to stop playing; and "Los 007" were no exception. They withdrew in the early 1970s, due to the military government of General Velazco Alvarado.

Happily, among his recordings, we can hear from his LP "Nuevo Estilo" songs like "Te amo mi Nena", "Mi Segunda Lagrima" or this one, the one that struck me, and I sincerely liked him, both for his psychedelic style. and that delicious rhythm of a lilting ballad: "I can't find you" (1967) fourth song on side A, it is for me, one of her best compositions, and that's why I decided for her for this entry. So I hope to share with you this little gem of rock from the 60s in Peru, a little gem that you don't hear every day.

Conexion No. 5 

Carlos Bisso: Voice

Marcelo Trull: Guitar

Raul 'Cuervo' Tortora: Drums

Mario Ricciardelli: Keyboard

Ruben Blanco: Low

With his neatly slicked black hair, his leather jacket and his enigmatic black gloves, Carlos Bisso burst onto the Buenos Aires scene in the late 1960s. His band Conexion Numero Cinco, through which the great Roberto "Pappo" Napolitano had a brief stint, debuted in 1969 and was characterized by its instrumental quality and the elaboration of the arrangements. The initial line-up was made up of Carlos Bisso on voice, Raúl 'Cuervo' Tortora (drums), Marcelo Trull (guitar), Mario Ricciardelli (keyboard) and Ruben Blanco (bass). After the recording of this first album, Bisso separated in 1970 to continue with his own band, Carlos Bisso and his Conexion No. 5, while the original continued with Amadeo Alvarez as vocalist. Bisso, who was an excellent singer, from serious and deep timbre, was roundly rejected by the public of rock when appearing next to the band of Alchourron "Canto y Clarificacion". Obviously he was considered a representative of "commercial music", which for a certain sector of the public had no possibilities of evolving in his proposal.

As part of his record production, there were numerous single discs and three albums with different formations and similar titles: Connection number 5, Carlos Bisso with his Connection number 5 and Carlos Bisso and his Connection number 5. Several of his songs appeared in the musical ranking. Argentine for several weeks, among others Sing Sing Barbara, Dong Dong Diki Diki Dong, Venus and Orgullosa Mary.

In 1970 Carlos Bisso was declared the winner at the First Festival of the Argentine Song for the World, organized by RCA and CBS at Luna Park, with the theme "How Difficult is Living Whole".

The singer's career also includes a brief passage through the cinema, as an actor. In 1971 he had a leading role in "The Good Feelings, by Bernardo Borenholtz, months later he would suffer a car crash that took him between life and death, but from which he quickly recovered.

He died at the age of 63, in 2005, at his home in the Buenos Aires district of Tigre.

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