Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles

September 25th, 2011

Once Upon A Time... A Mariachi Musical

Perhaps the greatest tribute to Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles® – the first all female mariachi in the United States – is that now there actually are other all-female mariachi groups. It is the growing proof that when mariachi Maestro Jose Hernandez created Reyna de Los Angeles®, it wasn’t a novelty; it was a genre.

Reyna, which was formed in 1994, has taken the history of women in mariachi music from being solely singers to being full complement of musical performers. The compliments have not stopped. In a musical landscape where songs are often written by men, about male perspectives, Reyna has created its own history.

That history had the best of beginnings with the mentorship of Lola Beltran, “La Reina de la Musica Ranchera”, who created confidence among the members in the early years.

While Maestro Hernandez often credits the tremendous contributions of Beltran and other early contributors, Reyna could not have been created if not for his vision. Always ahead of the curve, Maestro Hernandez saw the potential to include more people in the rich heritage of mariachi music, and the opportunity to include more families in learning and performing.

“I knew there were enough excellent female musicians to do it, and I didn’t want guys to say, ‘They play like girls,’” says Maestro Hernandez. “Now guys from other groups come up to me and tell me that they can’t get over how these girls sound so amazing. It’s because they sound like angels, and that’s why they are names after the City of Angels.”

Reyna has gained fame for the stars they have shared the stage with; such as Vikki Carr, Guadalupe Pineda, Miguel Aceves Mejia and Lucha Villa, but they have gained even greater acclaim for the stars they have performed in front of: Tom Petty, the Dodgers’ Nomar Garciaparra and his soccer-star wife Mia Hamm, John Travolta, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, Robin Williams, Sean Penn and the late George Harrison of the Beatles.

The success has propelled Reyna de Los Angeles® to record two successful albums produced by Maestro Hernandez: Solo Tuya (Yours Only) and El Mejor Mariachi Femenino del Mundo (The Best Female Mariachi in the World).

It is not just the title of the record; it’s a proud legacy for a new world of mariachi music.

Official Website:
www.reynadelosangeles.com

Music:
Dan Guerrero – Creative Director
Concerts:
Student Showcase Concert
Dance:
Los Lupeños
Film & Community Conversations:
Thomas A. Saenz

Music:
Vikki Carr
Music:
Tito Puente Jr.
Films:
Danza Folklórica Escénica
Dance:
Calpulli Tonalehqueh

Concerts:
The Sound of East LA Meets the Kings of Latin Swing
Film & Community Conversations:
Dionisio Ceballos
Music:
Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez
Concerts:
VivaFest 2012 Spring Events – An Evening of Comedy!

Film & Community Conversations:
Olga Briseño
Dance:
Rafael Zamarripa
Film & Community Conversations:
Albie Hecht
Festival Workshops:
Music & Dance Workshops

Films:
The Harvest
Films:
When Worlds Collide Documentary
Music:
Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles
Film & Community Conversations:
Rubén Martínez

Film & Community Conversations:
Richard Gonzales
Film & Community Conversations:
U. Roberto Romano
Festival Workshops:
Folklórico Dance Workshops
Films:
At the End of the Day

Concerts:
Latina on the Loose
Music:
Los Lobos
Music:
Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán
Special Events:
A Community Conversation

Music:
Mariachi Cobre
Films:
MEXICO (An IMAX Film)
Music:
Cesar Rosas
Music:
Mariachi Azteca

Concerts:
Once Upon A Time… A Mariachi Musical
Film & Community Conversations:
Gil Sperry
Friday, May 4, 2012:
VivaFest 2012 Spring Events – Conversations with Javier Sicilia Ruben Martinez and Ruben Navarrette
Music:
Mariachi Véritas de Harvard