Regional Mexican singer Chalino Sanchez was one of the artists who established the popularity of narcocorridos, the Mexican folk ballads about criminal activity. ∙ Sanchez began composing music during a 1984 stint in prison, writing songs for other inmates in exchange for money and favors. ∙ In 1987, he started writing and recording songs on commission and pressing small runs on cassette. ∙ Released two months after his 1992 death, Adios A Chalino (feat. Los Amables del Norte), was his first album to make Billboard’s Regional Mexican chart.