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| Mariachi Los Camperos | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mariachi Los Camperos |
| Background | group_or_band |
| Origin | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Genre | Mariachi |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Label | RCA Victor, Nonesuch Records, Smithsonian Folkways, WRJ |
Mariachi Los Camperos Mariachi Los Camperos is a Mexican mariachi ensemble founded in 1961 that became a leading ambassador for traditional and contemporary mariachi music in North America and worldwide. The group, associated with figures from Mexico City to Los Angeles, has performed at venues and festivals such as the Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl, and international stages in London and Tokyo. Over decades they have collaborated with artists and institutions spanning RCA Victor, Nonesuch Records, and the Smithsonian Institution.
Formed in 1961 by Natividad "Nati" Cano in Mexico City, the ensemble relocated and reconstituted in Los Angeles during the 1960s, interacting with communities in East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, and the broader Chicano movement. Early engagements included performances at venues tied to Mexican cinema stars and tours with mariachi circuits that connected to Jalisco traditions and the legacy of the Jarocho and Son Jalisciense repertoires. In the 1970s and 1980s they recorded for RCA Victor and appeared on programs alongside artists linked to Hollywood Bowl residencies and televised events on PBS. The group weathered personnel changes after Cano's death in 2014 and continued under the stewardship of successors who maintained ties to institutions such as the Smithsonian Folkways archive and educational programs at universities like UCLA and USC.
Founding director Natividad "Nati" Cano served as artistic leader, arranger, and cultural liaison, mentoring musicians who later joined ensembles associated with figures like Rudy Salas and institutions such as the National Endowment for the Arts. Notable members over time have included instrumentalists trained in conservatories and regional traditions from Guadalajara, Zacatecas, and Michoacán, performing alongside guest artists connected to Linda Ronstadt, Antonio Aguilar, Vicente Fernández, and collaborators from Los Lobos. Leadership transitioned to musicians with ties to conservatory training and neighborhood ensembles in East Los Angeles; these leaders have coordinated workshops with organizations like the Mexican Cultural Institute and partnered with orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The ensemble's repertoire spans son jalisciense, ranchera, bolero, and arrangements of traditional folk songs, presenting works by composers such as José Alfredo Jiménez, Rubén Fuentes, and interpretations of standards popularized by Javier Solís and Pedro Infante. Their arrangements often feature the guitarrón, vihuela, trumpets, violins, and vocal harmonies, drawing on stylistic precedents from ensembles associated with Víctor Cordero, Pepe Martínez, and orchestral collaborations like those with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and chamber groups from the New York Philharmonic sphere. They have premiered new compositions commissioned by arts organizations linked to the NEA and participated in cross-genre projects with artists from jazz and classical circles, including collaborations adjacent to names such as Dizzy Gillespie-era practitioners and contemporary arrangers in the American folk revival.
Major recordings include albums released on RCA Victor and a Grammy-winning project with Nonesuch Records and Smithsonian Folkways distribution partnerships. Landmark titles feature traditional suites and studio albums that appeared on catalogs alongside recordings by Linda Ronstadt and compilations curated by institutions like the Library of Congress. Their discography includes studio albums, live recordings at venues such as the Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, and contributions to soundtrack projects connected to films featuring Mexican cinema performers. Reissues and archival releases have been promoted through collaborations with labels associated with archives like the Smithsonian Institution and cultural centers in Los Angeles.
Los Camperos have toured extensively across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and Asia, performing at festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival (cross-genre appearances), the National Folk Festival circuit, and cultural seasons hosted by consulates including the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles. Venues include the Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl, and civic stages in San Antonio, Chicago, and San Diego. They have been invited to perform for cultural programs tied to institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, municipal arts councils, and university series at UCLA and USC.
The ensemble received a Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Album and nominations across categories recognizing traditional performance and production, shared with producers and arrangers linked to labels like Nonesuch Records and producers associated with the NEA. Honors include civic proclamations from municipal governments in Los Angeles and recognition by cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress for their role in preserving and promoting mariachi traditions. Members have been recipients of individual fellowships and awards connected to organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts.
Mariachi Los Camperos played a central role in popularizing mariachi music in the United States and across cultural institutions, influencing ensembles including community groups in East Los Angeles, academic mariachi programs at UCLA and UNAM, and professional bands that perform at venues from Disneyland to international concert halls. Their educational outreach informed curricula in community arts centers and collaborations with artists from Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, and symphony orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble's archives and recordings are used as reference material by scholars at institutions like the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, and university departments in ethnomusicology, ensuring their arrangements and repertoire continue to shape contemporary mariachi practice.
Category:Mariachi groups Category:Mexican musical groups