Trio Cristal

Trio Cristal were three young Paraguayans who traveled around South America and decided they would stay in São Paulo and try their luck. In 1960, they were signed by independent label RGE and recorded a cover of 'Nuestro juramento' that had been a hit all over South America by Equatorian singer Julio Jaramillo. A sad song that deals with death written by Puertorican Benito de Jesus (1912-2010). 

'Nuestro juramento' went surprisingly to #1 in the singles' chart and Trio Cristal became a household name. RGE soon released an extended-play and in 1961, they had their first album out. 

Actually, there is a little bit more to those guys than that. Before 1960, they were known as Trio Salinas.

Trio Cristal's first extended-play.

XRLP-5.099 - Canta o Trio Cristal - 1961

1. La pachanga (Eduardo Davidson) - merengue 

2. Amargo retorno (Julio Jaramillo)  

3. Interrogación (Minerva V.Elizondo)

4. Malvada (Tito Avila)

5. Mi locura (Julio Jaramillo)

6. Nuestro juramento (Benito de Jesus)

1. Botecito de vela (R.R. Rosado) cha-cha-cha

2. Encadenados (Agustin Lara)

3. Buenas noches (Maugeri Netto)

4. En mi delirio (Ricardo Mora)

5. Ensueño de claro lunar (Cirilo R.Zayaz-Gerardo Arroyaz)

6. Curuzú verá (Americo F.Cabrera-Ruben de Oliveira)

XRLP-5.138 - Trio Cristal - 1962

1. Si tu volverás (Julio Jaramillo)
2. Escandalo (Rubens Fuentes-Rafael Cardenas)
3. Ansiedad (Jose Enrique Sarabia Rodriguez)
4. Deseo (Julio Jaramillo)
5. Cuando te canses de llorar (Jose A.Espinosa)
6. El invierno (Maximo Casanova)

1. La barca (Roberto Cantoral)
2. La hiedra (L'ereda) - Vicenzo D'Acquisto; v.: Saverio Seracini
3. Devuelveme el corazón (Julio Jaramillo)
4. Muy cerca de ti (Fiorentin Gimenez-Ben Molar)
5. Sin temor (Maximo Casanova)
6. El destino lo quiso (A. Sactillo)

XRLP-5.156 - As mais lindas guarânias - Trio Cristal

1. India (José Flores-Ortiz Guerrero)
2. Lejania (Herminio Giménez)
3. Que será de ti? (Demetrio Ortiz-Maria Teresa Marquez)
4. Anahi (Oswaldo Soza Cordero)
5. Mis noches sin ti (Demétrio Ortiz)
6. Mi destino (Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo)

1. Mi dicha lejana (Imigdio Ayala Baéz)
2. Recuerdos de Ypacaraí (Mirquin-Demetrio Ortiz)
3. Distancia (Herminio Giménez-Don Cochia)
4. Sé que te perdi (Jose Bra - Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo)
5. Yo no sé porque (J.P. Delfor-Boggino)
6. Noches de Paraguay (Samuel Aguayo)

Trio Cristal in 1958, when they were known as Trio Salinas. From left to right: Marcelino Romero, Maximo Alberto Casanova & Tito Salinas.

Alberto Casanova, Tito Salinas & Pedro Gamarra.

Alberto Maximo,  Tito & Enrique sit dangerously at a rail at the Grandes Galerias (future Galeria do Rock) in São Paulo in  1961. 

Alberto, Tito & Enrique look proudly at their first album for RGE. 

Alberto Maximo, a friend, Enrique, Pedro & Oslain Galvão with the Sugar Loaf in the back.

a very elegant Trio Cristal wearing their cowboy ties.

Trio Cristal's first and greatest hit: 'Nuestro juramento', a bolero written by Benito de Jesus from Puerto Rico.

Ecuatorian singer Julio Jaramillo's recording of 'Nuestro juramento' was the basis for Trio Cristal's cover recorded at RGE in São Paulo. They took it to #1. I particularly prefer Trio Cristal's version which is most heart-rendering with their 3-part-harmony.

Paraguayan song-writer Maria Teresa Marquez sings other people songs in a 1957 album.