Parchís (group)
Parchís was a children's music group from Spain which enjoyed great success in the Spanish-speaking world in the 1980s. Their significance in Hispanic popular culture comes from being perceived as an archetype of this type of band at the time. Parchís' original five members were Constantino Fernández Fernández, Yolanda Ventura Román, Oscar Ferrer Cañadas, Gemma Prat Termens, and David Muñoz Forcada. After several line-up changes, the group disbanded in 1992 with various members continuing successful careers in the world of entertainment.
The group's name is a reference to the board game, Parcheesi, where each player represents a different colored pawn. In the same way, each member of the group dressed in one of these four colors with the fifth member representing the dice.
History
Parchís was created in 1979, after executives from the Belter Records company placed a newspaper ad in Barcelona, asking children to attend auditions to form a musical group. At first, Belter Records intended to employ the group members during summers only; the company's executives figured out that would be the best season of the year for Parchís albums and concerts to sell.Parchís was neither a boy or girl band. Eventually, the band expanded to have six members at the same time. Gemma Pratts Tremens, David Muñoz Forcada, Oscar Ferrer Cañadas, Constantino Fernández Fernández, and Yolanda Ventura were the first five kids to be chosen as members of Parchís.
Tino was the heartthrob of the group; Gemma was the shy one; Yolanda was every boy's crush; Frank, who joined in 1981 after Oscar left, was the extroverted redhead; and David, a blonde-haired boy, was the best dancer and the life of the party.
Parchís' first single, "En La Armada", was a Spanish version of the Village People's disco hit, "In the Navy". "En La Armada" became a major hit in Spain, giving way for a number of important music composers to start working with Parchís. "En La Armada" was followed by what was arguably the group's biggest hit, "Durante la Espera de Parchís". This song became a number one hit in Argentina. Later on, the group also became successful in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and other American countries.
Personal problems forced Oscar Ferrer Caňadas out of the band in 1981. He was substituted by Francisco Díaz Terez, known by fans simply as "Frank". Brothers Miguel Ángel Gómez Cambronero and Jesús Gómez Cambronero joined the band after Tino and David left the group in 1983.
Losing Tino proved lethal to the group, however. With Menudo reaching unprecedented success levels in Latin America as well as in Spain, and other Latin American groups like Los Chamos and Los Chicos also providing Parchís with the competition, and with Ferrer Cañadas' considerable number of fans going, Parchís began to wane.
In Spain and Argentina in particular, however, the group remained popular enough to release a 1983 movie, Parchís Entra en Acción, alongside Alberto Fernández de Rosa.
In 1985, Parchís broke up. The group had recorded a number of albums that were successful in Spain and Latin America. More than a decade later, the group would reunite for one television show engagement.
On February 10, 2008, Parchís made an appearance on the Mexican television show "Muevete" It was the first time in 25 years that they were all together on the same stage. They were introduced and sang the song "Parchís" with everyone in attendance. Tino spoke of a comeback and wanting to sing again. They were interviewed for about one hour and spoke about their romances and adventures during their tour. They announced plans to tour again and come out with a new album. In the opening sequence, they all stood on a colored circle and the curtains came up, but there was a problem with Gemma's circled curtain that didn't come up in time, but she continued to sing. This was the highest viewed program in Mexico for the year so far.
Members
- Constantino "Tino" Fernández Fernández, the red pawn, lead vocalist, and leader of the group. He began a solo career after his time in the group, releasing three albums with little success. He later worked for Artel. During this time, he lost his left arm in a car accident in Murcia. He is currently working as a radio sports commentator in Barcelona and is married with no children.
- Yolanda Ventura, the yellow pawn, and daughter of Spanish musician Rudy Ventura. After Parchís, Yolanda began acting in television shows in Spain, before relocating to Mexico where she works exclusively for Televisa. She had a son with her first husband, actor Alejandro Aragon, and is now in a relationship with Odiseo Bichir, another actor.
- Gemma Prat Termens, the green pawn. She went on to run a kindergarten in Barcelona. She is now working as a clerk and is married with a daughter.
- David Muñoz Forcada, the white die, and the group's dancer. After Parchís, he went to Scotland to study economics and currently works for an advertisement company. He is married and lives in the United States.
- Óscar Ferrer Cañadas, the blue pawn, and the first band member to leave. He subsequently graduated with a degree in journalism and political science, and now works as a marketing manager in a communication group. He is married.
- Francisco "Frank" Díaz Terez, Oscar's replacement as the blue pawn. Frank already had experience as an advertising model before joining the group. He formed a rock band after leaving Parchís, and is now an entrepreneur, with a wife and daughter.
- Jesús "Chus" Gómez Cambronero, the red pawn, and Tino's replacement as the group's leader. After Parchís, he formed a band called Platón with his brother Michel.
- Miguel "Michel" Ángel Gómez Cambronero, the white die, David's replacement, and the last new member to join. After Parchís, he and his brother Chus formed the group Platón in 1992.
Discography
- Superman
- Barbapapa Rock
- Fantasmas a Go-Go
- Gloria
- La Plaga
- Demasiado Cielo
- Si Vas a París Papa
- Cantando Aventuras
- Los Cinco
- En La Armada
- Mi Barba
- Hallelujah
- El Plátano
- Ganador
- Me Gustas Mucho
- Si Tuviera Un Martillo
- Mamá Yo Quiero
- Mortadelo y Filemón
- La Canción de... Parchís
- Tarzan
- De Oca, En Oca
- Es Tan Divertido Ayudar a Papá
- Hooray! Hooray!
- La de la Mochila Azul
- Ven a Mi Casa Esta Navidad
- Comando G
- Me Vuelvo Loco
- El Video Mató a La Estrella de la Radio
- Vamos a Bailar
- Animales, Animales, Animales
- Ali Baba
- Un Mundo Para Ellos
- Zark -7
- Una Casita en Canada
- Animales
- Songs from the anime series "Battle of the Planets" by Tatsunoko Production
- La Batalla de Los Planetas
- Me Vuelvo Loco
- Zark-7
- Una Casita en Canadá
- Defensores Del Bien
- Comando G
- El Vídeo Mató a la Estrella de la Radio
- Por El Deporte a la Paz
- Alí Babá
- Twist Del Colegio
- Viejo Tren
- Ratatata
- Funkytown
- Toc-Toc-Toc
- Tu Nombre
- Don Diablo
- La Caza Del Ratón
- Dime Que Me Quieres
- Érase Una Vez El Hombre
- Cantando y a La Cama
- Querido Profesor
- Tema del Flaco
- Fin de Curso
- Tema del Profesor
- Comando G
- Twist del Colegio
- Tema de Supermán
- Ayúdale
- Tema de Don Atilio
- Canción de Don Mati
- Fum, Fum, Fum
- El Rabada
- Les Dotze Van Tocant
- El Desembre Congelat
- El Tunc Que Tan Tunc
- La Mare De Deu
- Noi de la Mare El
- Sant Josep I La Mare de Deu
- Cascavells
- Santa Nit
- L'avet
- El Demoni Escort
- Campana Sobre Campana
- Los Peces en el Río
- Navidades Blancas
- Rin, Rin
- Dime, Niño ¿De Quién Eres?
- Arre, Borriquito
- Noche de Paz
- ¡Ay! Del Chiquirritín
- Ande, Ande, Ande
- Jingle Bells
- El Pequeño Tamborilero
- Canta, Ríe y Bebe
- La Magia Del Circo
- Hola Amigos
- Cinco Amigos de Verdad
- Canta y Baila
- Corazón de Plomo
- Un Rayo de Sol
- Dime Por Qué
- Vamos a Bailar un Twist
- Me Vas a Volver Loco
- El País de la Música
- Rockabilly Rebel
- Pequeño Amor en Buenos Aires
- Veo Veo
- El Espacio
- Cumpleaños Feliz
- Los Picapiedra
- El Baile Del Stop
- Que Barbaridad
- Tintarella Di Luna
- Vamos a Cantar
- El Baile de Los Pajaritos
- Ven a Mi Fiesta
- Verdad o Mentira
- Cuando Me Miras
- Otro Curso
- Mi Bici
- La Chica Ideal
- ¡Oh, Jesús!
- Querido Walt Disney
- Nana Blanca, Nana Negra
- Parchís y El Mago
- Vamos Por Un Mundo De Colores
- Bocadillo Stop
- Patinbaile
- La Superfiesta
- El Árbol de la Sabiduría
- Himno de Las Aguilas Del America
- El Mundial
- Márchate Ya
- Buenos Días Arco Iris
- Hasta La Vista
- Vamos a Río
- Meteorite Rock and Roll
- Tarzán, Tarzán
- Hasta Luego Cocodrilo
- Pregúntale a Juan
- Pancho López
- Hay Que Vencer Al Miedo
- La Batalla De Los Planetas Unreleased Medley “Todas sus canciones… todos sus éxitos
- Ya Estás Aquí
- Los Muchachos
- Arriba, Abajo
- El Ritmo Loco
- No Sé Porque
- Bien, Bien Bravo
- Las Rockeras de Santa Teresita
- Vuelvo de Disney World
- Safari en la Ciudad
- Las Locuras de Parchís
- Señor Búho
- Mi Super Superman
- Mi Guitarra
- Auxilio, Socorro
- Mi Amigo Pancho
- Felicidades
- Feliz Navidad
- La Virgen y San José
- Pastores Venid
- Una Pandereta Suena
- La Noragüena
- Catatumba, Tumba, Tumba
- Ya Viene La Vieja
- Madre en la Puerta Hay un Niño
- Carrasclas
- Tan, Tan de los Reyes
- A Belen Pastorcitos
- Zúmbale al Pandero
- El Portal de Belen
- Paquetitos Navideños
- Esto es America
- Lucky, El Jinte Solitario
- Scooby Doo
- Entra en Acción
- En el Super Mercado
- Vamos a Ganar
- A Entrenar
- A Vencer
- No Pongas el Cassette
- La Puerta Verde
- La Banda Está Loca
- Que Maravilla de Canción
- Tranqui Tranqui
- ¡Oh! Mamá, Papá
- Marionetas en la Cuerda
- Cosas de Críos
- 24,000 Besos
- La Dolce Vita
- Yo También Quiero Fama
- Quiero Que LLegue El Domingo
- 24,000 Besos
- Fama
- No Pongas el Cassette
- Que Tal Te Va
- Una Moto Quiero Yo
- Ahora Sí
- La Timidez
- Tartamudeo
- Viva el Cinco
- Tal Para Cual
- No Me Mientas
- La Del Suéter Gris
- Suspenso Total
- Sábado, Sábado
- Me Estoy Volviendo Loco
- No Sé, No Sé
- La Colegiala
- Yo Soy Como Soy
- Lobo Hombre en París
- Di Cual Fue Al
- LLamas a Mi Puerta
- Decídete, Atrévete
- Nubes De Colores
- Joven Primer Amor
- Dissidia