Tecalitlán, Mexico

Longstanding Mexican group Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan was formed in 1898 in the town of Tecalitlan by Gaspar Vargas, Manuel Mendoza, and 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, after the death of frequent contributor Jose Alfredo Jimenez, the band continued in its evolution, accompanying Juan Gabriel in his first recordings. In 1976, Pepe Martinez assumed the musical direction of Mariachi Vargas. ~ Zac Johnson