One of America's most venerated bands, Los Lobos were seasoned veterans with years of experience when they scored their first hit in 1987 with a cover of Richie Valens' "La Bamba." Though their time as pop stars was short, the group won over critics and fans with their bracing mixture of rock, blues, Tex-Mex, country, R&B, and folk influences. Los Lobos got their start playing acoustic Mexican folk music, and as they added rock and blues accents to the mix, they began to win a following outside their hometown of East L.A. with 1983's ...And a Time to Dance and 1984's How Will the Wolf Survive? Almost four decades later, 2021's Native Sons saw them playing with their usual soul and expertise on a set of covers of other California-based acts. While often cited as one of the great bands of Latino rock, Los Lobos' sound more accurately defined them as a vital example of America's cultural melting pot.