He was born in Castilla, Piura, and was part of one of the most important cumbia groups in Peru. César Saavedra, better remembered as 'Chechi' Saavedra, spoke exclusively to La República about his beginnings in music, his best years in Armonía 10, his relationship with Makuko Gallado, Walter Lozada, Carlos Soraluz and Percy Chapoñay. He also told what his future musical projects are and his opinion on current cumbia groups, such as Grupo 5.
She studied nursing and worked in a local post office. “I didn't have this (singing) in mind as something professional,” the cumbia singer revealed when he recalled his beginnings in music. The only closeness he had was with his neighborhood friends, with whom he sang and played the guitar. It wasn't until a parish celebration in Piura that they invited him on stage to perform 'Mi gran noche' by Raphael and there he started it all. He was contacted by Piña Kolada orchestra and, although at first he did not want to join, after listening to them, he changed his mind.
“We were the first, before Agua Marina, at that time,” he said. His passion for music was so great that at first he didn't even want to get paid, because he just liked to do it. Later, he moved to other orchestras, until Don Juan Lozada 'Papá' called him to join The Blanders, the name that Harmony 10 previously had.
César Saavedra: beginnings in Armonía 10
Armonía 10 officially began with some young people 'Chechi' Saavedra, Percy Chapoñay, Walther Lozada (son), Koky Álvarez and Makuko Gallardo. When Don Juan Lozada died, Walther was the one who took charge of the orchestra. Once they started recording, a businessman took them to Lima and the songs assigned to them were 'El humo del cigarette', 'El Cervecero', 'Muchachita golosa' and 'Te alejas'.
'Chechi' Saavedra was 19 years old when he started singing on Armonía 10. Photo: YouTube screenshot
“They were practically the (songs) that brought Armonía 10 forward because we became known nationally. Nobody knew us, only from Piura to Tumbes, but not,” said the artist, without imagining that all these musical themes would be played in all the country.
According to him, an unforgettable anecdote when he was just starting out in Armonía 10 was when the orchestra arrived in Chiclayo for a 'hand in hand' with Team 5. It was their first time playing outside of Piura, and since they were all new to the music industry, they believed that the public would not recognize them. “It was our turn, Group 5 didn't even look at us. We were one more, we were very prepared, very nervous. One way or another we had to make Piura look good (…). We just played the first song, and it was a euphoria, the public went wild with us,” commented the well-known 'Chechi' Saavedra.
Later, they began to be played on the radio. They promoted his music in different parts of the country and, when they arrived, “he was a shrink,” well, all the media wanted to interview him, and people even came to the radio stations to ask for autographs.
Release of Harmony 10 and other personal projects
For César Saavedra, Armonía 10 had four stages. The first and second generations, in which he was with Makuko and Percy Chapoñay, were one of the best because they were all like “a family”, in addition to recording their main hits. The first time he left the group and Walther Lozada called him back, he “found everything in a very different way”, so he was there for one more season, but then he left again.
Danny Delgado and 'Chechi' share stages as 'Leyendas de oro'. Photo: César Saavedra/Facebook
Later he created other cumbia groups. One of the most important was 'Internacional Pacífico', which he practically led. However, due to various problems, he could not register the name, and it was Tony Rosado who did so first, which is why today he is known as the founder of the group.
He returned to Harmony 10 for the third and fourth time. In the latter he was already determined not to return: “When I left Armonía 10 it was because I had in mind that I didn't just want to be a simple singer, I also wanted to be an owner, I wanted to have something of my own and I did, until today,” he indicated. . Later, he established himself with Danny Delgado as 'Golden Legends'.
He was also in 'Walther Lozada y Orquesta', for one year and three months; but then he resigned. “I finished my cycle with them. It was necessary to retire because I have always had that desire to improve myself more. Maybe at my age it is a little difficult, but I am achieving it (…). We had to give the youth, the new ones, the option “I think that is also very important, stepping aside so that the new youth can enter,” he said.
Currently, he works as a soloist alongside the promoters, but he also has reunions with the former members of Armonía 10, with whom he shares the stage. In addition, she hopes to soon formalize his own orchestra and will soon release her own song with his music video.
#39Chechi39 #Saavedra #tells #beginnings #Armonía #reason #departure #Group #didn39t
