The band was formed in 1964 in Montevideo, Uruguay, by brothers Hugo Fattoruso (lead guitar and keyboards) and Osvaldo Fattoruso (rhythm guitar), after watching the movie A Hard Day’s Night.
They deliberately adopted the Fab Four look – haircuts, suits, and gear – and initially wrote and performed almost exclusively in English.
Their 1965 single Break It All (recorded as Rompan Todo) was a major hit in Argentina and remains their most famous track.
As the 1960s progressed, the band moved from Merseybeat pop into more experimental and psychedelic territory, similar to The Beatles‘ own trajectory.
Their 1968 album, La Conferencia Secreta del Toto’s Bar, is often called the “Latin American Sgt. Pepper“. It famously blended psychedelic rock with local rhythms like candombe, tango, and bossa nova.
Unfortunately, their label (EMI/Odeon) disliked their move away from the profitable Beatle image and refused to promote the new experimental sound. This lack of support, combined with financial issues from their contracts, led the band to split in 1969.
After the split, the Fattoruso brothers moved to the US and formed the jazz-fusion/Latin rock group Opa. The original Los Shakers lineup reunited once in 2005 to record the album Bonus Tracks and perform farewell concerts in Argentina and Uruguay.
Hugo Fattoruso
Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica Osvaldo Fattoruso
Guitar, vocals Roberto “Pelín” Capobianco
Bass, Bandoneon, vocals Carlos “Caio” Vila
Drums, vocals
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They deliberately adopted the Fab Four look – haircuts, suits, and gear – and initially wrote and performed almost exclusively in English.
