Mariachi briefs: Nati Cano forms foundation to aid mariachi

Cano See Cano making the announcement and introducing students to two female pioneers of the mariachi world, Rebecca Gonzales and Tucson's Monica Trevino. Broadband. Dial-up.

Tucson Citizen
April 28, 2003
Longtime Mervyn's Tucson International Mariachi Conference co-headliner Nati Cano announced at an orientation meeting for workshop students the creation of the Nati Cano Foundation Educational Fund for the Preservation of Mariachi Music.
Through it, the National Heritage Award-winning leader of Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano will be able to travel around with his music director, Jesus "Chuy" Guzman (who also served as musical director of this year's conference) and other members of his band, as needed, to help mariachi groups in need.
"My services will be free," Cano told the 750 students. Those wishing to learn more can contact him through his La Fonda restaurant in Los Angeles, (213) 380-5055.

Jose Ronstadt gets into hall of fame

Jose Ronstadt Watch Ronstadt talking about highlights of the mariachi conference's first two decades. Broadband. Dial-up.

Veteran Mervyn's Tucson International Mariachi Conference emcee Jose Ronstadt was inducted into its Hall of Fame Friday night at the Espectacular concert.
For 20 of the conference's 21 years, the Los Angeles KHYT Telemundo anchorman has gotten audiences charged and kept things moving with hilarious, often moving, bilingual chatter.
"I was very moved because one, I'm not a mariachi," he said. "Two, I don't sing. Three, I don't play an instrument. It's an honor that's bigger than any recognition I ever received in my life. This one really hit home."
Ronstadt learned of the honor a few days in advance. He kept asking for the program to go over the notes for his commentary, but conference coordinator Lolie Gomez kept telling him, "It's still at the printer." When he insisted on getting the notes, she finally relented.

Departure beefs up Garibaldi Fiesta

Mariachi Tapatio See clips from Garibaldi of Rojas, Los Hermanos Herrera, Los Camperos as well as Aztlán singer Jessica Rojas, who earned a standing ovation for her soaring performance. Broadband. Dial-up.

Tens of thousands of music lovers packed Tucson's Armory Park on Saturday, enjoying the talents of Tucson's Mariachi Tapatio, Mariachi Aztlán de Pueblo High School, Mariachi Herencia de Mexico, Los Camperos de Nati Cano and many more. But a surprise trio from California, Los Hermanos Herrera, gave fans a taste of the mariachi's virtuosic folk roots.
Dressed not in trajes (the suit of the mariachis borrowed from the gentleman cowboys of Mexico) but in ordinary clothes, the brothers demonstrated the driving rhythms, high-flying, free-rhythm violin and leaping falsetto vocals of the 'sones huastecas' - roots music of the modern mariachis. The group was brought in from California by Nati Cano.

Carport serves as Cobre shrine

Mariachi Tapatio See the Carrillos talk about their days with the Changos, the early days of Cobre and the first Tucson International Mariachi Conference. Broadband. Dial-up.

A former carport in the home of Leo and Emma Carrillo - parents of Mariachi Cobre founding members Randy and Steve Carrillo - has been converted over the years into a shrine of sorts, documenting the early days of Tucson's Mariachi Los Changuitos Feos - the seed of the mariachi movement in America - and the evolution of the Cobre.
Seated in that room, surrounded by memorabilia, photos and laminated newspaper clippings, the Carrillo Brothers said last week that they were on different career paths before the music became their lives.
"I never did," said guitarrón player/group leader Randy Carrillo when asked if he thought he'd spend his life as a musician.
"I ended up working for the city of Tucson in municipal government for eight years. I enjoyed that."
"I was in bilingual education," added fiery trumpeter and vocalist Steve Carrillo. "I was going to be a schoolteacher."
It was the offer to play at Disney's Orlando, Fla., EPCOT, where Cobre has been the house band at the Mexico pavilion since 1982, that cast the die and changed the future of mariachi music in America.
- By Daniel Buckley