Cannibal & the Headhunters
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Biography
Cannibal & the Headhunters' "Land of a Thousand Dances" spent 14 weeks on the U.S. singles chart in 1965, making the group one of the first Mexican-American bands to land a national hit. Formed in 1964 in the housing projects of East Los Angeles, the Headhunters took their inspiration from doo wop music and early rock & roll. Although their version of Chris Kenner's "Land of a Thousand Dances" wasn't as popular as Wilson Pickett's 1967 recording of the same song, the Headhunters left their permanent mark on the song nonetheless, with lead singer Frankie "Cannibal" Garcia originating the song's iconic "na-na-na-na-na" hook after forgetting the lyrics during a show in Fullerton, California. Months after "Land of a Thousand Dances" peaked at Number 30 on Hot 100 in early 1965, Cannibal & the Headhunters toured America as the Beatles' opening act, playing historic shows at venues like Shea Stadium and the Hollywood Bowl. The band continued playing shows during the following decades, with Garcia retiring in 1983 and ceding the group's ownership to bandmate Robert Zapata.
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