Chetes

Born Gerardo Garcia, Chetes' music career began when Zurdok bassist Maurizio Terracina introduced him to the nascent group. Garcia quickly signed on as singer, but he was supplanted just a few months later by Fernando Martz, whose voice could better negotiate -- and withstand -- the band's harder early sound. When Martz left unexpectedly after the release of Zurdok's successful second album Hombre Sintetizador, Garcia found himself again as the band's sole vocalist. He presided over 2001's excellent Maquillaje, but in 2002 the band's contract with Universal expired, and they took a hiatus that became permanent. Chetes and Terracina formed the band Vaquero in 2005, and Garcia launched his solo career in 2006 with the chiming pop-rock release Blanco Facil.