GUSTAVO LOPEZ, 77 (1938-2016)—a former member of the world-renowned Trio Los Ases (1960-1966) and one of the last singers of the great bolero romantico generation died August 26, 2016 at 5:15pm at Chicago's Swedish Covenant Hospital from complications from a septic infection.

Gustavo was born on October 31, 1938 in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico to Arquimedes Lopez and Adolfina Rangel. He is survived by his wife, Irma; his sisters Rosa Esther, Martha, and Guadalupe; and his children Maricela, Gustavo, Gustavo, Fernando, Octavio, Leopoldo, Lorraine, and Yarhazeth.


Artistic Career

Gustavo Lopez, who would once be dubbed by music critic J.L. Vallejo as one of Mexico's eleven best singers, had an early start. His singing talent was discovered at the age of 6. In 1944, his mother took him to "El Calcetín Eterno," a singing contest on XEW radio, where he won second place.

With an absent father and unable to raise four children on her own, Gustavo's mother sent him to live in the city of Matamoros where he was raised by his uncle and put to work at a young age to help earn his keep. There, he pursued his talent and his love of boleros as a strolling musician. He joined brothers Hector and Victor Mendez and formed Trio del Puerto.

It wasn't until he relocated to Mexico City and formed Trio Los Angeles with Carlos Vera and Salvador Regalado that he got national attention. Between 1958 and 1960 the trio signed twelve SP recording contracts with Vik Records, Musart and RCA labels with renowned producer Rubén Fuentes as their artistic director. Trio Los Angeles accompanied famous soloists like Paco Michel, Virginia Lopez, and Luis de Castro at reputed halls like Teatro Iris and Teatro Lirico.

In 1960, when a vacancy opened up after the departure of singer Marco Antonio Muñiz and the passing of singer Daniel Cabrera "Gasparín," Gustavo Lopez was invited to join Trio Los Ases, considered one of the all-time four greatest trios in the history of bolero. They toured extensively in Mexico, Central America and the United States. Gustavo also recorded 3 LPs with the group for RCA Victor between 1963 and 1965.

In 1966, Gustavo left Los Tres Ases and recorded "Por Esta Noche" his debut solo album for the Peerless Label. In 1968, he rejoined former band mate Juan Neri and recorded one more LP for Discos Orfeon in a failed attempt to rekindle the fame of Los Tres Ases.

In 1968 Gustavo moved to Chicago to work at Hacienda del Sol in Lincoln Park and La Margarita Café. He became a U.S. citizen in 1972. He began a long struggle with alcoholism, subsequently moving to Seattle, Calgary, Detroit, and Fort Lauderdale. He joined the Alcoholics Anonymous program, something he was forthright about, and he was sober for most of 39 years. In the early 1990s he moved to Los Angeles and formed TRIO SAN PEDRO with Teo Franco and Humberto Reyes. There, he also met his wife Irma.

In 1996, at age 57, he returned to Chicago with his new family and joined Trio Los Duques with Jorge Jasso and Oscar Medina. In 2005, he recorded his last solo LP "Con Mi Voz y Mi Guitarra" produced by Juan Dies, cofounder of the Grammy nominated group Sones de Mexico Ensemble. Gustavo continued to perform until 2013 when his failing health prevented him from continuing his life-long love affair with bolero music. In "Solo Tu" one of his compositions he said that through the highs and lows of his life his guitar, a steady companion, was always with him.

"En lo bueno, en lo malo, en lo dulce, y en lo amargo: guitarra mía, sabia guitarra, dulce guitarra..."

Gustavo Lopez's music is available through his website at gustavolopez.com

Visitation Monday, August 29, 4pm-9pm at Lawrence Funeral Home, 4800 N. Austin Ave, Chicago. A funeral service will be held at 7:30 pm. Interment private. For more information please call 773-736-2300.