Fernando Arbex

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Fernando Arbex

Background information
Born	May 18, 1941 Madrid
Died	July 5, 2003 Madrid
Instrument(s)	Drums
Associated acts	Los Brincos Barrabás

Fernando Arbex (May 18, 1941 - July 5, 2003) was an influential Spanish musician and songwriter from Madrid, who enjoyed success both with his own groups and also with other artists.

While still in his teens, he was the drummer in Los Estudiantes, and in 1965 he formed the very successful pop band Los Brincos (often seen as the "Spanish Beatles") in which he also played drums. After that group split in the late 1960s, Arbex formed the progressive Latin rock trio Alacran with Iñaki Egaña and Oscar Lasprilla. When Lasprilla left the band and moved to England, Arbex and Egaña founded the Latin disco and rock-orientated Barrabás, who went on to considerable European success throughout the 1970s. Their most successful hit single "Woman" found its way on to the charts in the United States.

Alongside his career as a musician, Arbex acted as a producer and songwriter for many successful acts, including Jose Feliciano, Harry Belafonte, Nana Mouskouri, Emilio Aragón, Miguel Bosé and Middle of the Road. He also recorded works outside the world of popular music, such as his musical "La Maja de Goya", and music for cinema and ballet.

In 2000, he reformed Los Brincos for an extremely successful special concert in A Coruña, and also recorded with a reformed Barrabás.

Fernando Arbex died in 2003 after a long illness.