The Pop Music Team was one of Mexico City’s most popular party bands from 1969-1972. Although the band was originally formed in 1965 –and had a large following at private parties in Mexico City’s more affluent neighborhoods– it was disbanded in march of 1969 because a politically charged song they had recorded ran them afoul of the country’s repressive regime at the time.

The band was started again late in 1969 by bass player Hugo Díaz –one of the original founders– and singer Jorge Berry. Different musicians had come and gone throughout the years, and by the time I joined the band in early 1971 (after a yearlong stint with Los Yaki, followed by a few shorter stints with Bandido and other rock bands), the lineup included drummer Alejandro Mills (also one of the original members) and guitarist Rodolfo Rey. A horn section was added when playing parties at larger venues.

By the Fall of 1971, when the photograph below was taken during the band’s residency at El León Rojo, a nightclub in Mexico City, the Pop Music Team included drummer Julio Vigueras, lead singer Jorge Berry, guitarist Jorge Dominguez, bassist Hugo Díaz, and myself on keyboards.