User:JPDcuber/Antonio Ríos

Epifanio Antonio Ríos (La Escondida, Chaco Province, August 17, 1954), also known as "El Maestro", is an Argentine singer, composer, and musician of cumbia and folklore.

Early Life
Antonio Ríos was born on August 17, 1954, in La Escondida, a town 60 kilometers from Resistencia, capital of the province of Chaco. His five siblings were also born there. His father worked in the only tanning factory in the village. His uncles and cousins also lived in the village. When the factory closed, Ríos' father had to migrate to Buenos Aires to look for a house there, leaving the family to their fate. Those times were hard for Antonio, who lived submerged in poverty; he walked barefoot, and with his family they lived in mazamorra with the corn that his mother sowed. Finally, his father returned, and they left for Villa Fiorito (the same neighborhood where Diego Armando Maradona would be born).

Ríos rehearsed at home with his brothers. One day a boy came to get them to play eight consecutive nights at carnivals. It was a club near his home, where they all knew each other. At the age of twelve he began working in a tannery, in the finishing stage, where the final touch is given to the leathers.

He was passionate about two things, which were singing and playing football. When he finished shining shoes, he went to the club. He played for El Porvenir, and he vocalized. According to his own account, he played well, however he could not be a footballer because when he had the opportunity to play for Racing Club, El Porvenir did not give him the pass because he was the scorer. That's when he devoted himself fully to vocalizing. He studied tango, melody, and folklore.

At eighteen he began to have problems with his work in the tannery since he was lowered to the bank, the heaviest part, where, with boots and apron, put in the water, he peeled hides lowering them salted, with hair. There were no forklifts; they carried the wet hides on their shoulders.

When he turned 20, he became a greengrocer. Things began to go well for him, so he gave up music. Later, he married a woman named Martha. But at 22 he already felt locked in, bored. At 26 came the group of a friend of his, who made rock. They had to record, and the singer was aphonic, so they decided to call him. His wife, Barbara Arana, told him that if he returned to music she would separate. Rios decided to sing.

Groups
In 1982 he had the opportunity to join the Green group - today headed by Chelo Torres. The group had enough work, but two years later they changed it for another, arguing that it sang too loudly. In 1987, the producer of the Sombras group summoned him to form the choir of this group and almost accidentally because the lead singer left the group for a better offer, by decision of the producer, Rios began to be the main voice. They presented a demo; when he heard it the director of the company said, "I like everything [of this group], except the voice". The group defended him and was able to stay. The following year the other members of the group quarreled with each other. During this stage, the most successful song was La mala gata.

In 1989, three of the members separated from Sombras group due to internal problems: Antonio Ríos (vocals), Reynaldo Valverde (guitar), and Jorge Cruz (bass), and decided to form the group Malagata, keeping the name of the last success of Sombras and so that the public could easily identify them. Due to the success they came to do 28 shows per weekend. As a result, Ríos was able to sustain himself economically. Many remember how he proudly displayed his Mercedes-Benz. The success accompanied him for five more years and in 1994 he decided to become a soloist, which left him in front of Malagata Reynaldo Valverde, who did not want to retire from the group along with him.

Soloist Career
Before starting his solo career, Antonio, in the company of musician and keyboardist Marcos Bustamante, came up with the idea of organizing a casting to find young musicians and singers forming a cumbia musical group, thus was born the band Ráfaga, this group that, over the years, is already a musical success both in his native Argentina and in the rest of Latin America and almost the corner of the European continent.

At 40 years old, the company didn't have much hope. He released his first album in 1995, La gata, which was consecrated as a Gold Record. He was so quarreled with Malagata that he composed the song I: «Oh mom, I feel relieved, finally that bad cat that had caused me so much damage has left». The song that was most listened to was "Yo Me Estoy Enamorando". They called it from Spain; it went to France, Sweden, the United States, and it even sounded in Japan.

In 1996, he released his second solo album and the most iconic, El maestro. In this work is included the theme "Nunca me faltes", a song that sounded throughout the country and that soon became a classic that marked the career of Ríos. This CD achieved platinum distinction.

His music had managed to cross the borders of the country, and when his work was already heard in Chile, he edited his third work in 1997: Sigue ser el maestro. With this work, he repeats the previous success of platinum record.

In 1998 he prepared the release of his fourth album: A toda voz, with a special production that even featured a video clip of the song "Nadie sabe" made in France during the 1998 World Cup. This album was recorded in "Panda" studios and has the collaboration of singer Tony Angel in the choirs, In this same year Rios receives the distinction Diamond Disc, in recognition of having overcome 1,200,000 units sold throughout its history. He was the first tropical artist to receive this distinction.

In 1999 a new surprise came: For the first time a popular artist launches a double album: The double album of the century. He had 12 cumbias and 12 ballads. This CD achieved Double Platinum Disc recognition.

The new millennium finds him editing his new material Ni un paso atrás, from 2000. In his songs the romantic lyrics are maintained but with the rhythm and strength of this artist.

With Tierra querida, his brand-new folklore album already on the street, Ríos gave himself the pleasure of singing one of his favorite genres.

In 2005 he received the Konex Award - Diploma of Merit as one of the best 5 Quartet/Tropical singers in Argentina.

In 2010 he collaborated with Chilean singer Catalina Palacios on the song "Eres lo que busco", for her second studio album Kata.

In 2019 he collaborated with RDK(group composed of Chilean rap singer Omega el Ctm, Colombian producer Jbeat, and Argentine deejay DJ Akrylik) in the song "Gitano", also participated the Argentine rapper Dong Kingtana said track includes video clip and was also included in his album entitled Rap De Kulto Deluxe Edition released in February 2021.

In 2020, Antonio released his tribute album to the remembered Mexican singer-songwriter and composer Juan Gabriel, named Homenaje a Juan Gabriel. This album contains the versions of several hits of the remembered Mexican singer-songwriter, called "El Divo de Juárez", in addition, he released the music video of the version of one of his songs, "El Noa Noa".

Shadows Group (Sombras Group)

 * 1988: A todo baile - Leader Music
 * 1989: Vibrando con...
 * 1990: Golpe norteño (Compilado)

Malagata Group

 * 1990: Grupo Malagata
 * 1991: Con toda la onda
 * 1991: Golpe norteño 2 (Compilado)
 * 1992: En el cielo las estrellas
 * 1993: Gigantes (Compilado)
 * 1994: Mas arriba que nunca
 * 1994: Gigantes 2 (Compilado)

Soloist

 * 1995: La gata - LEADER MUSIC
 * 1996: El maestro - LEADER MUSIC
 * 1997: Sigue siendo el maestro - LEADER MUSIC
 * 1998: A toda voz - LEADER MUSIC
 * 1999: El disco del siglo (volumen I) - LEADER MUSIC
 * 1999: El disco del siglo (volumen II) - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2000: Ni un paso atrás - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2001: 31 éxitos enganchados - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2001: Música, maestro - WARNER MUSIC ARGENTINA S.A.
 * 2002: Pidamos a Dios - WARNER MUSIC ARGENTINA S.A.
 * 2002: La historia de un maestro - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2004: Homenaje a don José - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2004: Los más grandes éxitos - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2005: El original - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2006: Para mi tierra querida - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2007: Amor sin fronteras - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2007: 20 Grandes Éxitos - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2008: Sonido 2008 - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2008: Megamix 24 Super Hits - LEADER MUSIC
 * 2008: Auténtico - GARRA RECORDS
 * 2009: La Vigencia de un Grande - GARRA RECORDS
 * 2010: Boleros: Una Voz para todo el Mundo - GARRA RECORDS
 * 2010: 20 Grandes Éxitos - Solo lo mejor - GARRA RECORDS
 * 2011: Te metiste en mi corazón - MAGENTA
 * 2012: Éxitos de ayer y hoy - MAGENTA
 * 2013: Mejor imposible - PROEL MUSIC
 * 2013: Antonio Ríos / Sebastián - Mejor imposible - PROEL MUSIC
 * 2014: Homenaje a los Grandes del Chamamé - PRODUCCIONES UTOPÍA S.R.L.
 * 2016: Gitana Amada - Distribuidora Belgrano Norte S.R.L.
 * 2019: Cuarteto al estilo del Maestro - Plaza Independencia
 * 2020: Homenaje a Juan Gabriel

Promotional Singles

 * 1999: DIF 094 (CD Promocional de Difusión) - LEADER MUSIC