In the hearts of Tucsonans, Nati Cano is a prince among men.
Since 1986, his Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano has been a mainstay at the Espectacular Concerts of the Mervyn's Tucson International Mariachi Conference, wowing the crowd with its consistent excellence. In recent years Cano and his troupes have led the conference's workshops as well, inspiring the next generation to eclipse the current masters.
His touring Christmas shows are one of the most beautiful integrations of folklórico dance artistry and mariachi heart this writer has yet seen. It's fitting that both he and Mariachi Cobre will back pieces by Ballet Folklórico de la Universidad De Colima this year.
"At the concert Nati Cano will be playing for them a special set of corridos," says mariachi conference board director Delfina Alvarez. "The students will also be learning them at the folklórico workshops. He's going to be doing three sets of corridos with his group and then I think he's going to select some of the students from the workshops also to join."
Mariachi Cobre

There would simply be no Tucson International Mariachi Conference were it not for Mariachi Cobre.
After attending a similar gathering in San Antonio, Texas, the Tucson-born group decided to transplant the idea to its hometown, creating the longest continuously running mariachi conference in the world. Founded by ex-members of the first crop of Tucson's legendary Mariachi Los Changuitos Feos, the group now resides in Orlando, Fla., where it performs at the Mexico pavilion at Disney's Epcot Center. It is one of the most sought-after groups of clinicians in mariachi education programs and conferences around the states.
The group is really looking forward to coming home, although its stay will be brief - just Thursday through Saturday, says group leader Randy Carrillo, speaking by phone from Orlando. And he adds that Cobre thoroughly enjoyed the response of fans when it returned to the conference last year, especially the standing ovation it got while performing an electrifying a cappella version of "The Star Spangled Banner."
"That was incredible," Carrillo says. "The audience response was overwhelming." - Daniel Buckley