Alberto Nelson Sanchez (July 10, 1936 – October 22, 2017), known professionally as Al Hurricane, was an American singer-songwriter, dubbed "The Godfather" of New Mexico music.

As a child, he would accidentally knock things over;[7] the nickname became synonymous with his band, studio, and a recording label.

[11] During his career he also performed alongside Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker, Jimmy Clanton, Fats Domino, Marvin Gaye, along with other country music and rock and roll musicians.

Jose, Al's father, was a miner during most of his childhood; but he still found the time to teach the five-year-old Alberto how to play the guitar.

[23] This did not deter him from pursuing his musical career; instead, it gave him a signature performing look featuring an eye-patch across his right eye.

These were each Spanish language releases, which continued to blend the sounds of New Mexico, the Southwestern United States'.

During the late 1960s, Al Hurricane, Tiny Morrie, and Bennie Sanchez purchased The Sky Line Club and renamed it "The Far West" in the early 1970s.

[31] After the New Mexico State Penitentiary riot, in 1980, Al Hurricane wrote a song that was "strictly narrative, not a subjective account or soapbox.

A few of Bennie Sanchez's kids, Al Hurricane, Tiny Morrie, and Baby Gaby, got together to do a tribute album for her.

[11] The group saw success on New Mexico radio, in Chicago, along the west coast, and internationally in Germany, Venezuela, and Spain.

[34] After three Bandido releases, two collaborative family LPs, and a compilation album called Exitos De Al Hurricane.

[34] He did another collaborative compilation album with Tiny Morrie and Al Hurricane, Jr. 15 Exitos Rancheros, Vol.

Once he returned to his solo albums Al Hurricane began to focus more on Ranchera music[11] on his 1995 Sigue... "La Leyenda"!!!

; it continued Al Hurricane's focus on Ranchera and Western sound, while adding in a Cumbia vibe into the beat.

¡Que Viva El Godfather!, released in 2003, showed an increased enthusiasm to include an even stronger mix of Ranchera and Cumbia.

[10] The following year Isleta Casino & Showroom hosted A Tribute To Al Hurricane, the concert was recorded and released a set of two CDs and a DVD.

The DVD contained small documentary-like slideshows that educate the audience to inform them on the upcoming artists and songs.

[2] His last studio album was 2010's Hey Sugar Baby!, which had Al Hurricane combining global genres into his New Mexico sound, including Italian and Reggae music.

Al Hurricane the 75th Birthday Concert recorded on July 8, 2011, at the Albuquerque Hard Rock Casino.

These articles were written by writers including Gustavo Arellano,[53][54] Simon Romero,[55] and Enrique Lamadrid.

[56][57] Under the EMI Capitol and/or Discos Musart label, in the 1980s Al Hurricane released four albums with the supergroup Bandido.