Alfredo Rios, better known globally by his nickname El Komander, is a regional Mexican singer and songwriter whose fame comes from being an international ambassador of Mexico's alternative movement, primarily a new form of banda that delves heavily into narcocorridos -- the ballads and narrative songs that tell the story of his country's drug lords' lives and often grisly deaths.

Rios was born in Sinaloa, Culiacan, and studied formal composition in the Mexican traditional styles of cancion, nueva cancion, banda, and mariachi. He began performing locally where he attracted the attention of label talent scouts due to his flamboyant style and poignant, rowdy songs that were at the spearhead of the Latin alternative movement.

Rios' recorded debut was the live En-Vivo!-Desde-Badiragato! on La Disco Records in 2006. He released El Katch in 2009, which boasted the hit single "Nomas por Ser Sinaloense." With a rigorous touring schedule, as well as help from radio, El Katch was a smash. This was followed by Archiv Privado in 2010, Y Seguimos La Borrachera in 2011, and the live Desde Zapopan (En Vivo) in 2012,which was re-released with bonus tracks in 2013 and added the hit single and video "Cuernito Armani." ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi