The first nationally famous ranchera singer, Jorge Negrete appeared in three dozen films and recorded almost 200 songs during the 1930s, '40s, and early '50s, before dying at the height of his career. Born into a military family (his father earned the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Mexican Army during the revolution), Negrete initially... [+] Read More

The first nationally famous ranchera singer, Jorge Negrete appeared in three dozen films and recorded almost 200 songs during the 1930s, '40s, and early '50s, before dying at the height of his career. Born into a military family (his father earned the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Mexican Army during the revolution), Negrete initially followed in his father's footsteps, enrolling in Heroico Colegio Militar (his country's West Point) in 1925 and joining the army three years later.

In addition to the military, Negrete was also interested in music; he studied voice with José Pierson and became a talented opera singer (at one time, New York's Metropolitan Opera House offered him a secondary position). When hired by radio station XEW in 1930, however, he struggled to make the transition from opera to the more commercial ranchera style. After four years of development and growing acclaim, Negrete made a trip to New York to perform and was promptly hired by NBC. His career exploded during his brief stay in America; he collaborated with Xavier Cugat, earned bookings at Latin clubs, met his first wife (dancer Elisa Christy), and connected with cinematographer Ramón Peon, who cast Negrete in his first film, 1937's La Madrina del Diablo. Four years later, Ay Jalisco, No Te Rajes! assured his fame as "El Charro Cantor," the singing cowboy. He made 38 films in all and recorded several huge hits, including "Paloma Querida," "El Hijo del Pueblo," "Tequila con Limón," and the patriotic anthems "Mexico Lindo y Querido" and "Yo Soy Mexicano."

During the early '50s, Negrete worked with Pedro Infante, one of his main ranchera rivals, in Dos Tipos de Cuidado, and wed another film star, María Felix, in a marriage that Mexicans dubbed "the wedding of the century" (Felix's first appearance was in a Negrete film). One year later, he was dead from cirrhosis, not caused by alcoholism but hepatitis. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Longstanding Mexican group Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan was formed in 1898 in the town of Tecalitlan by Gaspar Vargas, Manuel Mendoza, and by two violinists. In December of 1934, the group traveled to the capital of Mexico to be present at the induction ceremony of President Lazaro Cardenas, and acted as the city's official Mariachi band. Three... [+] Read More

Longstanding Mexican group Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan was formed in 1898 in the town of Tecalitlan by Gaspar Vargas, Manuel Mendoza, and by two violinists. In December of 1934, the group traveled to the capital of Mexico to be present at the induction ceremony of President Lazaro Cardenas, and acted as the city's official Mariachi band. Three years later, Mariachi Vargas appeared in Asi Es Mi Tierra (the first of almost 200 movies) and recorded their first record. Over the next 35 years, they recorded dozens of albums of pasodobles, valses, bailables, polkas, and danzones.

In 1973, the death of frequent contributor Jose Alfredo Jimenez, one of the greatest composer/vocalists of ranchera music, marked the end of an era. The band continued in its evolution, accompanying the vocalist and composer Juan Gabriel in his first recordings and introducing new and significant forms of expression in Mariachi music. In 1976, Pepe Martinez assumed the musical direction of Mariachi Vargas. Martinez' compositions display a mastery of rhythms and original arrangements that spotlights every musician in the group like a soloist, making the era around their centennial anniversary one of the group's strongest periods. ~ Zac Johnson, All Music Guide [-] Hide

With her expressive vocals, Lola Beltrán brought ranchera or mariachi music from the barrios of Mexico to the international stage. During the four decades that she was active, Beltrán recorded more than 70 tunes with many achieving gold record status. Her hits included such classic tunes as "Huapango Torero," "La Cigarra," and "Paloma Negra." In... [+] Read More

With her expressive vocals, Lola Beltrán brought ranchera or mariachi music from the barrios of Mexico to the international stage. During the four decades that she was active, Beltrán recorded more than 70 tunes with many achieving gold record status. Her hits included such classic tunes as "Huapango Torero," "La Cigarra," and "Paloma Negra." In 1982, Beltrán received la Medella del Artistica del Extranjero for her efforts as Mexico's cultural ambassador.

Beltrán was a secretary at a Mexican radio station when she was encouraged by famed singer Matilde Sanchez and Miguel Aceves Mejia. With their support, Beltrán made her professional debut as a singer in 1954. Her performances became the springboard for her career as she was overheard and signed to a recording contract by Peerless Records. In addition to her career as a vocalist, Beltrán was successful as a co-producer and actress in several films, including Cucurucucu Paloma, based on a popular song by Tomas Mendez. Beltrán celebrated her 40th anniversary in music with a concert at the Palacio del las Bellas Artes in 1994. She died following a stroke two years later. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Born Gabriel Siria Levario, Javier Solis became known as one of the most recognized Mariachi solo artists in Mexico. Coming from humble beginnings, at a young age Solis had to drop out of school to help support his family. He trained as an amateur boxer for six years with aspirations of turning professional, but quit after his father urged him... [+] Read More

Born Gabriel Siria Levario, Javier Solis became known as one of the most recognized Mariachi solo artists in Mexico. Coming from humble beginnings, at a young age Solis had to drop out of school to help support his family. He trained as an amateur boxer for six years with aspirations of turning professional, but quit after his father urged him to choose a more "decent" career. The young man used to sing in local competitions for small prizes (such as a pair of new shoes), but was eventually banned from participating because he so dominated the competition.

At age 16, Solis went to Puebla, Mexico to sing with Mariachi Metepec, but it wasn't until years later when Julito Rodriguez and Alfredo Gil of the trio Los Panchos heard him singing at a local bar that he got his first break as a recording artist. They took him to audition with CBS records where he signed a recording contract and cut his first album in 1950. His first hit, "Lloraras," came two years later and prompted his producer Felipe Valdes Leal to give him the name Javier Solis. The vocalist came to international acclaim in 1957, making appearances in the United States, Central, and South America. Solis was the first to sing songs in a style now known as "Boleros-Rancheras." He sang boleros typically associated with trio music but now accompanied by mariachis, also adding waltzes and tangos to his repertoire as a prolific interpreter of many styles of music.

Not content with simply performing as a recording artist, Solis began his acting career in 1959; filming more than 20 movies with stars such as Maria Victoria, Lola Beltran, and Luis Aguilar. Javier Solis died in 1966 at age 33 from complications resulting from gall bladder surgery, leaving behind a brief but memorable musical legacy. ~ Zac Johnson, All Music Guide [-] Hide

More than just the undisputed king of Mexico's traditional ranchera music, Vicente Fernández -- "El Idolo de Mexico" -- is one of that country's most recognizable and influential cultural icons. Since his emergence in the mid-'60s, Fernández's popularity has escalated to the point that his status among Mexicans and Mexican-Americans has... [+] Read More

More than just the undisputed king of Mexico's traditional ranchera music, Vicente Fernández -- "El Idolo de Mexico" -- is one of that country's most recognizable and influential cultural icons. Since his emergence in the mid-'60s, Fernández's popularity has escalated to the point that his status among Mexicans and Mexican-Americans has been likened to that of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley in the United States. His concerts both in Mexico and the U.S. routinely sell out despite a near-total dearth of non-Latino media coverage, and his 100-plus albums have reportedly sold in excess of 50 million copies. Fernández has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has been nominated for Grammy Awards, and has collected a number of honors, including being named Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy in 2002 and garnering membership in the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.

With his supersized sombreros, prominent black mustache, and eye-popping costumes, and an orchestra overpopulated with horns and strings players in glittery, matching mariachi outfits, the glitzy Fernández on-stage is an imposing, larger-than-life figure. Matching his visual presentation is an operatic voice that plumbs the depths of the emotional spectrum to connect on an intimate level with his audience, which relates to the singer's humble beginnings and everyman song lyrics.

Vicente Fernández Gomez was born February 17, 1940, in Huentitan del Alto, Jalisco, Mexico. His youth was marked by struggle. Forced to drop out of school in the fifth grade to help support his family, he held a number of odd jobs. He began to sing and play guitar at age eight and won amateur contests almost from the start. Fernández lore claims that he would go to Guadalajara, where he would stop cars and offer to sing for the drivers for a few pesos. By the early '60s, he had turned semi-professional, singing with local mariachi bands. Moving to Mexico City, he joined Pepe Mendoza's band, Amanecer, and then the band led by José Luis Aguilar.

In Mexico City, Fernández was regularly rejected by record labels, but he was finally noticed by CBS Mexico in 1966. His career did not take off quickly. Although he managed to sell modest quantities of albums and singles, began appearing in Mexican films (he has been in more than 25 to date), and logged such hit singles as "Tu Camino y el Mio" and "Cantina del Barrio," it wasn't until 1976, ten years into his recording career, that Fernández truly began his ascent to the top. "Volver, Volver," a ranchera written by Fernando Z. Maldonado, became a massive hit, its lyrics of forgiveness in a relationship touching a nerve among listeners. The song established Fernández not only in his home country but among other Spanish-speaking populations, including the millions of Mexican-Americans in the United States. Many Mexican music groups covered the song when they performed live.

From that point on, Fernández could seemingly do no wrong. His every single and album was a hit, and the public adored him. He became the first performer to sell out Mexico's Plaza de Toros bullfighting stadium, singing to over 50,000 fans. In the U.S., he has sold out such large-capacity venues as New York's Madison Square Garden, where he once shared a bill with his son, Alejandro Fernández, himself a major singing star. Vicente Fernández, Jr., one of the star's other sons, is also a well-known singer. In 2005, Fernández opened a covered rodeo arena on his ranch outside of Guadalajara. He named it after himself. ~ Jeff Tamarkin, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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