Cheech & Chong

Richard 'Cheech' Marin and Thomas Chong met in 1971 at a comedy club in Vancouver. They started working together on comedy routines that often revolved around marijuana culture, which was unusual for the time. Their first album came out that same year, simply called 'Cheech & Chong.'

Their 1978 film 'Up in Smoke' became a cult favorite, following two pot-smoking characters on a road trip. The movie's soundtrack included songs like 'Basketball Jones Feat. Tyrone Shoelaces' and 'Born In East LA,' which became part of their repertoire. They kept releasing albums through the 1970s and into the 1980s, including 'Big Bambu' and 'Los Cochinos.'

Their material drew criticism from some quarters for its drug references, and they faced legal issues along the way. But they maintained a steady output of comedy records and occasional film work. Their style mixed sketch comedy with musical numbers, creating something that felt both silly and oddly specific to its moment.