Timbiriche
Mexican pop group that evolved from children's to adult band.
Timbiriche, also known briefly as La Banda Timbiriche, was a Mexican Latin pop group that began as a children's music project in 1981. It was created as a Mexican counterpart to the Spanish group Parchís, and over the years it evolved from a children's act into a teen pop band, and eventually into a more mature pop group. The band is widely considered one of the most influential Latin pop groups of the 1980s and early 1990s.
The original members were Benny Ibarra, Sasha Sokol, Diego Schoening, Alix Bauer, Paulina Rubio, and Mariana Garza. Later additions to the lineup included Erik Rubín, Thalía, Eduardo Capetillo, Edith Márquez, and Bibi Gaytán. The group released twelve studio albums between 1982 and 1993, as well as two compilation albums and three live recordings. Timbiriche reunited three times: in 1998, in 2007 for its 25th anniversary, and in 2017 for its 35th anniversary.
The name Timbiriche comes from the paper-and-pencil game known in the United States as dots and boxes, where players complete squares to claim points. The group was named in response to Parchís, whose name also comes from a board game.
The group's origin traces back to the children's area of the Centro de Educación Artística (CEA) at the Mexican television network Televisa. Actress and producer Martha Zavaleta was responsible for recruiting children for the school. The first children chosen were Mariana Garza, Alix Bauer, Paulina Rubio, and Diego Schoening. They were later joined by Benny Ibarra and Sasha Sokol. The six children trained in singing, dancing, and acting, and eventually staged a play. This performance led Televisa executives to form a children's musical group with them. At the time, the Spanish group Parchís was very popular in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, so Televisa created Timbiriche as a Mexican answer. The creative team behind the launch included Victor Hugo O'Farril, a former partner, producer, and creative director at the station, and producer Luis de Llano Macedo. María Eugenia "La Gorda" Galindo was chosen as the group's manager.
Timbiriche made its official debut on April 30, 1982, on the Mexican television show *Siempre en Domingo*, with Spanish singer Miguel Bosé serving as its godfather.
Quick Facts
- Alias
- La Banda Timbiriche
- Landscape
- yes
- Background
- group_or_band
- Origin
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Genre
- Pop · synth-pop · Latin pop · teen pop · children's
- Years Active
- 1982-1994 · 1998-1999 · 2007-2008 · 2017-2020
- Label
- Discos Melody · Fonovisa · EMI
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The idea of forming Timbiriche originated from the children's area of the Centro de Educación Artística (CEA) of Televisa. Martha Zavaleta recruited Mariana Garza, Alix Bauer, Paulina Rubio, and Diego Schoening, later joined by Benny Ibarra and Sasha Sokol. After staging a play, Televisa executives decided to form a children's musical group with the six children, naming it Timbiriche after the paper-and-pencil game, as a Mexican response to the Spanish group Parchís. The creative team included Victor Hugo O'Farril and Luis de Llano Macedo, with María Eugenia Galindo as manager.
The group debuted on 30 April 1982 on the show Siempre en Domingo with godfather Miguel Bosé. Their first album included hits like 'Amor para tí' and 'Hoy tengo que decirte Papá'. Over the years, members came and went: Erik Rubín joined in December 1983; Benny Ibarra left in September 1985 and was replaced by Eduardo Capetillo; Sasha Sokol left in August 1986 and was replaced by Thalía; Mariana Garza left in December 1987 and was replaced by Edith Márquez; Alix Bauer left in November 1988 and was replaced by Bibi Gaytán. The group released twelve studio albums between 1981 and 1993, along with two compilation albums and three live recordings.
Reader's Guide
Timbiriche is regarded as one of the most influential Latin pop groups of the 1980s and early 1990s. Their evolution from a children's band to a teen pop group and finally to a mature pop sound mirrored the growth of their original members and allowed them to maintain relevance across a decade. The group served as a launching pad for several solo careers, including those of Paulina Rubio, Thalía, and Benny Ibarra, who became major figures in Latin music and entertainment. Their discography of twelve studio albums, two compilations, and three live recordings demonstrates sustained commercial output. The three reunions—in 1998, 2007, and 2017—underscore their lasting cultural impact and nostalgic value in Mexico and Latin America. Timbiriche's role as a Mexican answer to Parchís also highlights the cross-border influence of children's pop groups in the Spanish-speaking world.
Did You Know?
- Timbiriche was named after the paper-and-pencil game dots and boxes, as a response to the Spanish group Parchís, which was also named after a board game.
- The album Timbiriche VIII & IX was released as a double album because producers could not decide on the song selection.
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