Alberto Nelson "Al Hurricane" Sanchez is a New Mexican Latin musician known as the "Godfather of New Mexico Music." He is a household name throughout New Mexico

New Mexico

New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...

 due to his success in his home state.

Early life

Alberto Nelson Sanchez was born in the small town of Dixon, New Mexico

Dixon, New Mexico

Dixon is an unincorporated village located in Rio Arriba County in the U.S. state of New Mexico, on NM Highway 75, just east of NM Highway 68 in the north-central part of the state, at Latitude 36.20 & Longitude -105.89. The elevation of Dixon is 6028 feet above sea level...

 and grew up in different parts of Arizona

Arizona

Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

 and New Mexico before moving to Albuquerque in 1947. Sanchez had an early interest in music, starting to play guitar at the age of 5. It was then his mother gave him the nickname "hurricane" because he would run around the house, knocking things over. In 1954, Al graduated from Albuquerque High School. Five years later, his son Al Hurricane Jr. was born, later making his own impact in the New Mexico music scene.

Musical Legacy

At the age of 12, Hurricane performed at a wishing well in Albuquerque's Old Town

Old Town

Old Town is the typical designation of a historic or original core of a city or town. Although the city may be larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations...

 for tips. Eight years later, he released his first album "Mi Saxophone." As Hurricane's career in music was beginning to flourish, he was involved in a major car accident while en route to a performance in Denver, CO and lost his right eye, forcing him to wear the eye patch he has become recognized for.

In addition to his own band, Hurricane has also played guitar for artists like Fats Domino

Fats Domino

Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....

, Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....

, Jimmy Clanton

Jimmy Clanton

Jimmy Clanton is an American singer who became known as the "swamp pop R&B teenage idol". His band recorded a hit song "Just A Dream" which Clanton had written in 1958 for the Ace Records label. It reached number four on the Billboard chart and sold a million copies...

, and Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...

(ELVIS PRESLEY).

Present

Popularly known as the "Godfather of New Mexico music," Al Hurricane performs regularly in Albuquerque as well as other American cities. In addition, Hurricane has performed in Chicago, Miami, Paraguay, Argentina and Spain. As the "Godfather" on April 21, 2007 he was honored with a tribute concert. This concert honored him with all his success he has accomplished. Performers included: Darren Cordova, Al Hurricane Jr., Milford Salazar, Tiny Morrie, Matthew Martinez, Jerry Dean, Baby Gaby, Mariachi Paisano Del Valle, Mari, Aj Martinez, Donna Christine, Sorela, Charlie Pohl, and the Godfather himself Al Hurricane. This is available in cds and dvds.

Albums

Since his first album in 1967, Hurricane has released 29 more albums with his latest in 2007. They were released in the following order:

• "Mi Saxophone"
• "Canciones Del Alma"
• "Sigue Cantando"
• "Corridos Canta Al Hurricane"
• "Instrumentales Con Al Hurricane"
• "Para Las Madrecitas"
• "Vestido Mojado"
• "Cantan Corridos"
• "La Prison de Santa Fe"
• "Madrecita, Te Debo Tanto"
• "Exitos De Al Hurricane"
• "Bandido (1)"
• "Bandido (2)"
• "15 Exitos Rancheros"
• "Bandido (3)"
• "The Return of Al Hurricane"
• "15 Exitos Ranchros Volume 2"
• "Sigue... La Leyenda"
• "15 Exitos de Groupo Bandido"
• "The Legend of New Mexico"
• "Al Hurricane: Native legend"
• "Siempre"
• " Que Viva El Godfather"
• "Albuquerque"

HAY SUGAR BABY

Awards

Al Hurricane has received many awards throughout the course of his career, winning the Lifetime Achievement Award by the New Mexico Hispanic Awards Association, the Governor's Award For Music, and has a day declared "Al Hurricane Day" on May 5.Hurricane is set to perform on May 21, 2011 at summer fest.

External links

• http://www.alhurricane.com/Al_biography.html
• http://www.alhurricane.com/Al_Hurricane_music.html