Venezuelan tropical orchestra los Melodicos was assembled by Renato Capriles in the late '50s, making their debut in a radio station show called Su Revista Musical on July 15, 1958, voted the best Venezuelan orchestra by a local journalists association that same year. Los Melodicos, led by singers Víctor Piñero and Germán Vergara, signed up to the independent label Discomoda, issuing their debut album in May 1959. A year later, Norma López became the orchestra's first female leading vocalist, a place taken by Cuban Emilita D**o soon after. Chico Salas and Doris Salas joined in 1976 and 1977, respectively. In 1998, los Melodicos celebrated their 40th anniversary with the release of two compilations called 40 Aniversario. ~ Drago Bonacich