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 Dago 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