Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas
Encyclopedia
Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas was an Argentine
funk
duo formed in 1991 by Dante Spinetta
and Emmanuel Horvilleur. In 2001 Dante and Emmanuel split to continue their solo careers. The duo took their name from that of the Russian spy Illya Kuryakin
, a character in the hit 1960s TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
, and the Colombian football player Carlos Valderrama.
and photographer Eduardo Marti.
In 1987, with 12 and 11 years of age, Dante Spinetta and Emmanuel Horvilleur formed with younger siblings a rocker version of Menudo
. Later on they became a duo.
Fabrico cuero (1991–1992) (I make leather)
In 1991 they released their first album entitled "Fabrico cuero", which combines rap, synthesized sounds, catchy melodies and ironic lyrics. Public media accused them of being popular because of their names rather than their musical skills. But that changed when renowned musician Charly García
invited them to play at one of his shows to perform "Fabrico cuero" and "Rap del exilio". They shared the stage with Luis Alberto Spinetta in Venezuela.
Horno para calentar los mares (1993–1994) (Oven to warm up the seas)
In 1993, sales allowed them their second album, much harder than the previous one, with a new record label, PolyGram. It contains good songs like "No Way Jose" and "Virgin de rina". Despite having evolved musically, this album was not widely distributed. The album features Tweety González
.
Chaco (1995)
With their savings they went on to record what would be their most successful album, "Chaco". They chose to create their own record label, Gigolo Productions. Chaco sold over 250,000 copies. The first single from the album was famous song "Abarajame". The video received the Latin MTV Award for Best Video of 1996. According to band members "'Chaco' is a summary of what happened to us musically and socially in recent times. The record suggests a new state of mind in which there is no place for discrimination or oppression." Hence comes the name Chaco, which is one of the few provinces in Argentina where aboriginals still live. At this point they began to show in their videos their love of martial arts
.
MTV Unplugged Ninja Mental (1996)
They performed different versions of well-known songs and included two new ones, this gave birth to "Versus".
Versus (1997–1998)
Already in the U.S., they started preparing their fifth studio album. This work leans more to soul music
and funk music. It was recorded at Ocean Recording Studios, Burbank, and Battery Studios, New York. It was mastered at Sony Studios, New York and mixed at Battery Studios, New York. The result was a wonderfully crafted album. The first cut was "Expedicion al Klama Hama", one of the most beautiful songs of the band. A year later, its second cut "Jugo" became popular, and was nominated in 1998 in two categories at the MTV Music Awards. The album is very multicultural, musically speaking, as their sounds range from rock, funk, hip hop to ballads.
Leche (1999–2000) (Milk)
"Leche" was loaded with African-American music and funk. Songs speak of doom and the end of the millennium. This record was distributed in Mexico. The album features American bass player Bootsy Collins
who introduces himself saying "my name is Bootsy Collins, old woman!"
Kuryakistan (2001–2002)
This album includes new versions of old tracks, remixes and hits of their career, plus four new tracks.
Both Dante and Emmanuel continued their solo careers. Emmanuel would focus on a rock and pop-rock sound, while Dante preferred hip-hop. To everyone's surprise, Dante and Emmanuel met on the same stage again at the Vive Latino Festival
2008. On 24 April 2009, they also reunited as the opening act of the Puerto Rican duo Calle 13
at the G.E.B.A. stadium
in Buenos Aires.
They have reformed in 2011 http://www.informador.com.mx/entretenimiento/2011/318655/6/regresa-illya-kuryaki-and-the-valderramas-a-la-escena-musical.htm
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
duo formed in 1991 by Dante Spinetta
Dante Spinetta
Dante Spinetta is an Argentine singer/composer who was part of the defunct duo Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas.- Biography :...
and Emmanuel Horvilleur. In 2001 Dante and Emmanuel split to continue their solo careers. The duo took their name from that of the Russian spy Illya Kuryakin
Illya Kuryakin
Illya Nickovetch Kuryakin is a fictional character from the 1960s TV spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E..The series was remarkable for pairing an American Napoleon Solo and the Russian Kuryakin as two spies who work together for an international espionage organisation at the height of the Cold War...
, a character in the hit 1960s TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American television series that was broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1964, to January 15, 1968. It follows the exploits of two secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a fictitious secret international espionage and law-enforcement...
, and the Colombian football player Carlos Valderrama.
History
They met as children given the friendship between their parents, musician Luis Alberto SpinettaLuis Alberto Spinetta
Luis Alberto Spinetta , is an Argentine musician. He is one of the most influential rock musicians of South America, and together with Charly García is considered the father of Argentine rock. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the residential neighbourhood of Belgrano...
and photographer Eduardo Marti.
In 1987, with 12 and 11 years of age, Dante Spinetta and Emmanuel Horvilleur formed with younger siblings a rocker version of Menudo
Menudo (band)
Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era....
. Later on they became a duo.
Fabrico cuero (1991–1992) (I make leather)
In 1991 they released their first album entitled "Fabrico cuero", which combines rap, synthesized sounds, catchy melodies and ironic lyrics. Public media accused them of being popular because of their names rather than their musical skills. But that changed when renowned musician Charly García
Charly García
Charly García is a singer-songwriter, pianist and keyboardist from Argentina with a long career in rock music, forming successful groups such as Sui Generis and Serú Girán, cult status groups like La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, and as a solo musician.-Early years:Charly García was the eldest son in...
invited them to play at one of his shows to perform "Fabrico cuero" and "Rap del exilio". They shared the stage with Luis Alberto Spinetta in Venezuela.
Horno para calentar los mares (1993–1994) (Oven to warm up the seas)
In 1993, sales allowed them their second album, much harder than the previous one, with a new record label, PolyGram. It contains good songs like "No Way Jose" and "Virgin de rina". Despite having evolved musically, this album was not widely distributed. The album features Tweety González
Tweety González
Fabián A. González Amado , know with his stage name Tweety González, is an Argentine musician and record producer. He is best known for his work as collaborator keyboardist for the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo....
.
Chaco (1995)
With their savings they went on to record what would be their most successful album, "Chaco". They chose to create their own record label, Gigolo Productions. Chaco sold over 250,000 copies. The first single from the album was famous song "Abarajame". The video received the Latin MTV Award for Best Video of 1996. According to band members "'Chaco' is a summary of what happened to us musically and socially in recent times. The record suggests a new state of mind in which there is no place for discrimination or oppression." Hence comes the name Chaco, which is one of the few provinces in Argentina where aboriginals still live. At this point they began to show in their videos their love of martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
.
MTV Unplugged Ninja Mental (1996)
They performed different versions of well-known songs and included two new ones, this gave birth to "Versus".
Versus (1997–1998)
Already in the U.S., they started preparing their fifth studio album. This work leans more to soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and funk music. It was recorded at Ocean Recording Studios, Burbank, and Battery Studios, New York. It was mastered at Sony Studios, New York and mixed at Battery Studios, New York. The result was a wonderfully crafted album. The first cut was "Expedicion al Klama Hama", one of the most beautiful songs of the band. A year later, its second cut "Jugo" became popular, and was nominated in 1998 in two categories at the MTV Music Awards. The album is very multicultural, musically speaking, as their sounds range from rock, funk, hip hop to ballads.
Leche (1999–2000) (Milk)
"Leche" was loaded with African-American music and funk. Songs speak of doom and the end of the millennium. This record was distributed in Mexico. The album features American bass player Bootsy Collins
Bootsy Collins
William Earl "Bootsy" Collins is an American funk bassist, singer, and songwriter.Rising to prominence with James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s, Collins's driving bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading names in funk...
who introduces himself saying "my name is Bootsy Collins, old woman!"
Kuryakistan (2001–2002)
This album includes new versions of old tracks, remixes and hits of their career, plus four new tracks.
Musical style
The musical style of Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas has always been hard to determine. It ranges from soul, funk, hip-hop and other African-American rhythms to rock, alternative, electronica, heavy metal and rap metal.Aftermath
After an 11-year career together, the end was near. The tragic death of the duo's manager, José Luis Miceli had a big impact on them. The album 'Kuryakistan' was dedicated to him and it included the songs 'A-dios' and 'Hermano' as a personal homage. The band split in 2001.Both Dante and Emmanuel continued their solo careers. Emmanuel would focus on a rock and pop-rock sound, while Dante preferred hip-hop. To everyone's surprise, Dante and Emmanuel met on the same stage again at the Vive Latino Festival
Vive Latino
Vive Latino is an annual rock music festival held in Mexico City. It is one of the most important rock en español music festivals in Latin America, featuring a great variety of Mexican, Latin and Spanish groups of many genres....
2008. On 24 April 2009, they also reunited as the opening act of the Puerto Rican duo Calle 13
Calle 13
Calle 13 is a Spanish cable/satellite television channel. Owned by Universal Studios Networks Spain, Calle 13 promotes itself as a channel of suspense and action and its available on Digital+ satellite TV platform and on all Spanish cable TV platforms....
at the G.E.B.A. stadium
Estadio G.E.B.A.
Estadio G.E.B.A. was a multi-use stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was the home ground of Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires. The stadium held 18,000 spectators...
in Buenos Aires.
They have reformed in 2011 http://www.informador.com.mx/entretenimiento/2011/318655/6/regresa-illya-kuryaki-and-the-valderramas-a-la-escena-musical.htm
Discography
- Fabrico cuero (1991)
- Horno para calentar los mares (1993)
- Cartuchera Porno (1994)
- Chaco (1995)
- MTV Unplugged Ninja Mental (1996)
- Versus (1997)
- Leche (1999)
- Kuryakistan (2001)
- Abarajame (EP) (2003)