Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán & Mariachi Sol De Mexico De Jose Hernandez in Lancaster

Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán is a Mexican mariachi ensemble founded in 1897 in Tecalitlán, Jalisco, by Gaspar Vargas. Its repertoire spans son jalisciense, ranchera and huapango, and the group is closely associated with its arrangement of “El Son de la Negra.” Its recording history also includes work with Linda Ronstadt on Canciones de Mi Padre and Luis Miguel on México en la Piel. Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán accompanied Linda Ronstadt in the televised Canciones de Mi Padre concert filmed at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara. In 2017, the ensemble marked its 120th anniversary with a concert at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. The concert format is a full mariachi ensemble built around violins, trumpets, vihuela, guitar and guitarrón. Instrumental arrangements, ensemble singing and featured solo voices carry a repertoire rooted in Mexican regional music. The Tucson International Mariachi Conference has repeatedly presented the group in its Espectacular concert and educational program. The ensemble is also the namesake centerpiece of the annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza in San Antonio.

Mariachi Sol De Mexico De Jose Hernandez is an American mariachi ensemble founded in Los Angeles in 1981 by fifth-generation mariachi musician José Hernández. Its repertoire draws on traditional Mexican sones, rancheras and boleros, while recordings such as Acapulco Girls and La Nueva Era brought the group’s large-ensemble arrangements to a wider audience. The ensemble established A Merry-Achi Christmas as a recurring holiday concert, performing Mexican seasonal music alongside familiar American Christmas songs. The production has played performing-arts theatres including Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa and The Soraya in Northridge, and the group has also appeared at the Hollywood Bowl.