Chucho Merchan

Chucho Merchan was born in Bogotá, Colombia. His first musical experiences are in South America with his successful band called MALANGA and with university bands in California, U.S.A.

In 1974 he travels to England to study music at the famous Cambridge University. He studies composition, orchestration, direction and orchestral conduction, guitar, piano, percussion and double bass.

In 1980 he received his degree in Bachelor of Arts.

In the same year, after his graduation, he begins to play double bass at the English and American Jazz Circuit.

His band MACONDO, which he founds and for which he composes, wins the prize for the best European jazz band, competing against another 150 participants.

With this band he plays at the jazz festivals in Montreaux and Newport.

In Cambridge, he receives the prize for composition with his string quartet VIENTOS DEL SUR.

In 1983 he joins the Thomas Dolby band as a guitarist and does his first world tour promoting the album FLAT EARTH.

In 1986 he joins the band PRETENDERS with whom he records the album GET CLOSE and plays at concerts.

Right after the eruption of the NEVADO DEL RUIZ volcano, which destroyed Armero and left 25,000 dead people, Chucho organizes a charity concert for the survivors. David Gilmour (PINK FLOYD), Annie Lennox (EURYTHMICS), Pete Townshend (THE WHO), Mike Oldfield and many more participate at this event.

With the funds acquired, many charity works were done in Colombia besides a school, a sports center and a brick factory to help reconstruct the lives of so many people.

This is when FONEVA was born, a charity organization which he manages himself and which helps children, elderly people and animals in Colombia. www.foneva.org

He conducted The London Philharmonic Orchestra for Pete Townsend’s album IRON MAN and recorded the bass in SCOOP, WHITE CITY and DEEP END LIVE and was the musical director on the tour of THE WHO which celebrated their 25th anniversary of existence.

In 1987 he joins EURYTHMICS for the recording, programming and composition of the albums REVENGE, WE TOO ARE ONE and PEACE, and plays at their respective tours.

He worked with Annie Lennox on her album DIVA and subsequently participated in the recording of the album RED HOT AND BLUE to help the Aids victims.

With Eurythmics, they participated at the concert celebrated at the Wembley Stadium to push the South African government to release Nelson Mandela.

In 2002, he played the double bass with David Gilmour for the acoustic concerts of the Royal Albert Hall of London.

Chucho has done innumerable world tours with diverse artists and has participated in many musical projects as arranger, composer and producer.

These are some of his most important works:

David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

George Harrison (The Beatles)

Pete Townshend (The Who)

Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)

Annie Lennox (Eurythmics)

Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)

Mick Hucknal (Simply Red)

Alicias Attic

Brian Adams

Everything but the Girl

Bob Geldof.

Lou Reed

Salif Keita

Sinnead O´Connor

Gabrielle

Howard Jones

Mariane Faithful

Kirsty Mac Coll

Bonnie Tyler

Thomas Dolby

Shakespeare Sister

Mike Oldfield

Heitor Pereira

Maggie Reilly

Luz Casal

Fito Paez.

Robi Draco Rosa

Miguel Rios

Jaguares

Los De Adentro

Cabas