Pesado

by Jason Ankeny & Drago Bonacich Originally known as Grupo Pesado, the norteño group Pesado was founded by frontman/accordionist Beto Zapata and Pepe Elizondo (bajo sexto, vocals) in 1993 in Nueva Leon, Mexico. They debuted with the album Ayudame a Olvidar, released by MCM. Llego el Amor followed in 1994, soon achieving gold status. The following year, they scored a major hit with Eso Me Gusta. In 1997, original bass player Rodolfo Gajardo was replaced by Juan Antonio Pequeño. A new lineup change occurred in 1999 when ex-Grupo Límite drummer Luis Mario Garza took Mario Padillas place. By the time of their seventh LP, 1999s A Tu Encuentro, Pesado had signed to the new WeaMEX imprint, which would issue a series of greatest-hits albums for the group at the turn of the millennium. Todo Tuyo was issued in early 2001. Several more albums followed (as their discography continued selling to gold and platinum status) before Pesado issued 2006s Piensame un Momento, which continued their streak and earned the group a Grammy nomination for Best Norteño Album.