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At the end of the last century, while the representative music of Mexico was emerging in the State of Jalisco, in the United States the Mexican American residents continued to cultivate their traditions. Among them, music was one of the most valued aspect of their heritage.
In 1964, in modern Tucson, a Catholic priest organized the first young mariachi group in the country. Later, in 1971, after having collaborated almost from the birth of the group, Randy Carrillo, a student, organized the Mariachi Cobre with the participation of his younger brother Steve, his friend Mack Ruiz, and musical arranger, Frank Grijalva.
And this the beginning...in Tucson, Arizona of the spread of the music of Mexico throughout the world.
This phase covers a quarter of a century, during which this extremely professional group of young Mexican American men (nearly all from Tucson) have sung the music of Mexico, not only in this country - they have become ambassadors in other countries as well through international television.
Since 1982, Mariachi Cobre has delighted visitors to the internationally famous at EPCOT Center Disney World in Orlando, Fl. Before this, Mariachi Cobre was the creator in 1981, in its home town, of the International Mariachi Conference. This celebration is a concept that has spread to other cities in the United States where similar conferences are held. These have brought not only an exposure to the music of Mexico, but also the emergence of dozens of young groups of musicians and an increase in studies related to mariachi music.
Mariachi Cobre has cultivated very special relations with the Mariachi Vargas and Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, and have been accompanists for renowned artist such as: their compatriot Linda Ronstadt, Lucha Villa, Lola Beltran, Ana Gabriel, and Guadalupe Pineda, as well as Julio Iglesias, Jose Luis Rodriquez, Rocio Banquells, Vikki Carr, Beatriz Adriana, and other luminaries.
The members of the Mariachi Cobre are distinguished representatives of their Mexican American families in Tucson and of the ancestral music of Mexico.
The 25th anniversary celebration is a source of pride for the renowned Mariachi Cobre that, with the impulse of a strong tradition, promotes the music of Mexico from Tucson to the entire world.
By Ernesto Portillo, The Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen 4/22/96
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