2024 – Rigoberto Gómez Covarrubias
Rigoberto Gómez Covarrubias was born on December 7, 1954 in Tequila, Jalisco —the enchanting town famous for the alcoholic beverage it produces. He began his musical career as a child, […]
READ MORE2023 – Rebecca Gonzales
San Jose, California native Rebecca Gonzales began playing classical violin at age 10. Her intro duction to mariachi music came in 1972 when Mark Fogelquist invited her to participate […]
READ MORE2022 – Mark Fogelquist
Mark Fogelquist received his BA and MA in Ethnomusicology from UCLA. His master’s thesis (1975) was the pioneering academic work on mariachi music. From 1973 to 1993, Fogelquist directed Mariachi […]
READ MORE2019 – Laura Sobrino
Remembering Laura Sobrino (1954–2015) Laura Garciacano Sobrino was one of the earliest professional female mariachi musicians in the United States. The multiple contributions this Watsonville, California native made to mariachi […]
READ MORE2018 – Manuel Valle Villalpando
Widely repected in the Mariachi word, legenday performer and studio musician Manuel Valle Villalpando holds the distinction of being the most recorded mariachi trumpet player in history. Manuel was born […]
READ MORE2017 – Don Gasper & Silvester Vargas
According to Silvester Vargas, the mariachi founded by his father, Gasper Vargas, made its debut on the eve of Independence Day in their home town of Tecalitlán, Jalisco on September 15, […]
READ MORE2016- Noberta Fresquez
Noberta Fresquez has been around music and entertainment her entire life. This influence along with her roots in southern New Mexico undoubtedly helped her come to love the music of […]
READ MORE2015 – Jose Hernandez
Jose Hernandez has made and continues to make an indelible mark on the music of mariachi. Individually and through his group Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Jose has contributed mightily to […]
READ MORE2013 – Mario Santiago
Though he was born in Ameca, Jalisco, Mario de Santiago Miranda- better known as Mario Santiago- considers the village of Guachinango, Jalisco his hometown. It was there he grew up and where […]
READ MORE2014 – Federico Torres
Guadalajara native Federico Torres began playing trumpet professionally at age 14. In 1956, he moved to Mexico City where he spent the next several years playing with Mariachi Perla de […]
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