One-Hit Wonders: Mocedades

The Many Faces of Mocedades, c. 1974 (YouTube)

With an ever-revolving lineup that has included more than 2 dozen musicians — some joining as recently as this year — Mocedades is still alive and well (and considered a Spanish national treasure). In the US, however, they’re remembered mostly for their lone Top-40 hit.

The roots of Mocedades were formed in 1967 by the sisters Amaya, Izaskun and Estibaliz Uranga, known already as the vocal trio Las Hermanas Uranga. As they rehearsed, family and friends joined in and the group grew in size. A demo tape to producer Juan Carlos Calderon found them with a manager and a new name, Mocedades (meaning “youth”).

1973 was their breakout time, the year they finished as runner-up in the Eurovision Song contest. The following spring, “Eres Tu,” became the only Spanish language song at the time to reach the US Top 10. It landed at Number 9 in March 1974.

Of the many who have been part of the group, only Javier Garay and Izaskun Uranga remain from the original lineup.

Gone but not forgotten, at least not at WNEW, find more tales of one-hit wonders here …