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For 156 syndicated half-hour TV episodes (and assorted movies) between 1950 and 1956, The Cisco Kid, (played by Duncan Renaldo) and his trusty sidekick Poncho (Leo Carillo) roamed the west, assisting the downtrodden when law enforcement officers proved corrupt or unwilling to help. (A Robin Hood for the American West!)
It was the first television series to be filmed in color, although color TV was years away from being the norm in American Homes.
It was also the only western on TV at the time that featured ethnic leads...a fact that was not lost on young Howard Scott, who, in 1971 had become a guitarist for the group, "War."
Howard came up with the lyric "Cisco Kid was a Friend of Mine, and together with War's drummer, Harold Brown, and the rest of the group, they came up with today's "Great Song of the '70s."
Howard and the gang hoped "The Cisco Kid" would give people--especially kids--an ethnic role model, wrapped up in a song that was lighthearted and fun, with no talk about actual wars (Vietnam was looming large in those days.)
It certainly caught on! The song reached #1 in Canada, and in the US, it peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 and #5 on the Rhythm & Blues Chart.
Thereafter, War would start their concerts with a "Cisco Kid" movie clip, and when Cisco would say, "See You Later, Amigo," the music would begin!
It's all pretty cool in its own way...and certainly a "Great Song of the '70s" by War!
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