Intocable’s journey began in the early ’90s in tiny Zapata, TX, just across the Rio Grande from Mexico. Drawing inspiration from Mexican accordionist Ramón Ayala, founders Ricky Muñoz and René Martínez created a Tejano/norteño amalgam that leaned heavily on romantic ballads. The band’s fame was initially limited to the U.S., but in 1995 Intocable had their first international hit with “Y Todo para Qué,” which opened the door to Mexican audiences. Tragedy then struck: Two band members were killed in a car crash in 1999. But the group resurfaced months later with the comeback album Contigo, and 2002’s Sueños found them more popular than they’d ever been.
Sueños is a remarkable release—the band had by this time forged a convincing, hybrid border sound that spoke of deep connections between southern Texas and northern Mexico. But songs like “Sueña” and “El Poder de Tus Manos” transcended genre distinctions: They may be heavy on the accordion, but they’re light on their feet, buoyed by Muñoz’s subtle, intimate pop melodies. That unerring melodic sense—and Martínez and Muñoz’s harmonized vocals—helped the band fill arenas usually reserved for pop stars like Thalía. But it’s the poetry of the lyrics that really astonishes, and that’s thanks in no small part to songwriter Luis Padilla, whose words are surprisingly fresh and profoundly moving. Sueños became Intocable’s third album to top Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart—and their first to top the Latin Albums chart, paving the way for many hits to come.