Juan Manuel Cortez – 2025 Mariachi Music Hall of Fame Inductee
Born in Mexicali in 1952, mariachi violinist, director, and arranger Juan Manuel Cortez spent his childhood in Rancho Santo Santiago, Zacatecas, where his father and grandfather were mariachi violinists. At age 11, his family moved to Guadalajara, where he began playing guitar and guitarrón.
In 1968, Manuel and his father traveled to Mexico City and found work in Plaza Garibaldi. He switched to violin and enrolled in the Conservatorio Nacional de Música, working in Garibaldi by night. His early professional groups included Mariachi Palenque, Mariachi Dos Mil de Cutberto Pérez, and Mariachi Los Monarcas.
A major break came in 1974 when Mariachi Oro y Plata de Pepe Chávez toured Spain with Lucha Villa and hired Cortez as musical director. Oro y Plata was the most prolific studio mariachi of the 1970s, and he remained with them for 11 years. In 1982, following a crisis, the group disbanded, and Cortez moved to California seeking work.
In 1983, a friend introduced him to El Mariachi Restaurant in Orange, where Mariachi Uclatlán performed. There he met leader Mark Fogelquist, who offered him a position. Cortez spent nine years with Uclatlán as arranger, musical director, and album producer.
He later became musical director of Mariachi Tlaquepaque (1992–94), assistant director to Nati Cano with Los Camperos (1994–96), and founder of Mariachi Los Gavilanes (1996–2000). His final group was Mariachi Internacional de Francisco Jara (2003–04). Since then, he’s worked as a freelance arranger, director, producer, composer, and teacher.
Many mariachi groups have recorded his arrangements. Artists include Vicente Fernández, Felipe Arriaga, Plácido Domingo, Lupillo Rivera, and Lorenzo Antonio. He has taught at UCLA, East LA College, and various mariachi festivals. For over 20 years, he has been music director for Wenatchee’s Northwest Mariachi Festival.
Mariachi Spectacular’s Hall of Fame proudly welcomes Juan Manuel Cortez, an influential figure in mariachi whose 60 years of dedication clearly merit this honor.
