Tito Larriva

Tito Larriva
Tito Larriva and his daughter Lolita Carroll Larriva in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Humberto Lorenzo Rodriquez Larriva
Born	1953 Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Genres	Rock, punk rock, alternative rock, Chicano rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, guitarist, songwriter, musician, actor
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, keyboards, recorder
Years active	1977–present
Labels	JupiterXrecords, BMG
Associated acts	Tito & Tarantula, Cruzados, The Plugz, Psychotic Aztecs, The Flesh Eaters, The Impalas
Website	www.titoandtarantula.com

Humberto "Tito" Larriva is a Mexican/American song writer, singer, musician, and actor.

Larriva was born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, and El Paso, Texas. As a child he played the violin in the school orchestra and sang in the church and school choirs where he met his wife Janet Carroll. In 1972 Larriva snuck into Yale University for a full term without being noticed. After being kicked out of the Ivy League university, he moved to Mexico City and in 1975 moved to Los Angeles, California. He now lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and daughter and continues to work in the music and film industries.

Larriva was the vocalist and rhythm guitarist for punk band The Plugz. He formed The Plugz in Hollywood, California in 1978. Their presence during the birth of West Coast punk has ensured their enduring influence on punk bands. Record label Rhino recognized their role in the Los Angeles music scene by including their version of "La Bamba" on "We're Desperate: The L.A. Scene (1976-79)." The Plugz released two albums, Electrify Me (1978) and Better Luck (1981). The Plugz also scored the cult classic film Repo Man and contributed three songs to the soundtrack.

In 1979 Larriva formed Fatima Records, a DIY record label, with Chicano printmaker Richard Duardo and music promoter Yolanda Ferrer to release the Plugz' single "Achin'"/"La Bamba." The label would issue a few other releases, including the Plugz' second album Better Luck (1981) and "Attitudes" (1980), the debut EP by East Los Angeles punk band The Brat (produced by Larriva). Fatima Records was initially slated to release Fire of Love, the debut album by Los Angeles band The Gun Club; however, after Larriva produced six tracks, the label ran out of money, and Ruby Records completed the recordings and released the Gun Club's album.