Guest ArtistsMariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán

The Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán is the gold standard in mariachi music. Their highly energized performances surpass even the highest expectations. The music is executed with incredible precision and yet it remains new and fresh, even to audiences that have seen them multiple times.

The group performing today represents the sixth generation of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, and members vary in lengths of tenure. Maestro Ruben Fuentes is currently at the helm of the group and has been with Mariachi Vargas since 1944. Amongst the 13 performers, Federico Torres (trumpet) has been with the group for 47 years since 1966, while Daniel Martinez (vocalist and violinist) and Enrique de Santiago (guitarron) have been with the group approximately 26 years, respectively. The late Jose “Pepe” Martinez, Sr. (vocalist and violinist) was the group’s musical director for over 40 years (since 1975) until his recent passing. Miguel Ángel Barrón is the groups’ newest member who joined in 2011 as the vihuela player. Several members of the group live in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (the capital of mariachi) and others live in Mariachi Vargas’ official home base in Mexico City.

Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán tours year-round throughout the world. The group has performed in Spain, Japan, the Czech Republic and Paris, France where they played six performances of the world’s first mariachi opera Cruzar la Cara de la Luna in September 2011. Cruzar la Cara de la Luna was composed by José “Pepe” Martinez to a libretto by Leonard Foglia. The mariachi opera opened on November 13, 2010 in Houston, Texas. When not touring, the group is composing and/or arranging new pieces, rehearsing new material, or working in the recording studio. Every year, they perform in more than 25 U.S. cities and twice as many throughout Latin America.

Mariachi Vargas has recorded more than 200 albums since their founding in 1898. Their latest CD, titled 115 Aniversario, pays tribute to their 115th anniversary and includes music written by famous Latin composers such as Juan Luis Guerra, Emilio Estefan, Marco A. Solis, Joan Sebastien, Ruben Fuentes and Camilo Sesto.