Mariachi History is Made at the Grammys

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Cindy Shea Founder & Trumpeter; Mariachi Divas. The mariachi is unique not only because it is an all female mariachi, but it's members are made up of women from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Founder Nati Cano and Musical Director Chuy Guzman of Los Camperos are internationally reknowned and work as Master musicians to train San Fernando school children in the Mariachi Apprentice Program based at San Fernando Middle School. AP Photo

And the winner is ... Mariachi! History was made. This years Grammy Awards marks a tremendous breakthrough for the mariachi musician. The music world’s highest award was presented for the very first time to a Mariachi group and not to just one, but two very different kinds of Mariachi groups, Los Camperos and the Mariachi Divas who tied in the same category for Best Mexican Regional Music.

Over the years this category has typically gone to a solo musician, but this year it went to two very different kinds of Mariachi musicians, the traditional classical representation from the well respected Los Camperos and the very contemporary all female Mariachi ensemble – the Mariachi Divas, who blend the use of many instruments into Mariachi music. This is considered historic and a tremendous break-through as Mariachi musicians in the past have not received recognition for their musicianship nor understanding of the discipline and complexity of the music.

This award is also meaningfu for the Northeast Valley, members of both groups live in the San Fernando Valley and members of Los Camperos, including Los Camperos musical director, Jesus “Chuy Guzman, and harpist, Sergio “Checo” Alonso, a Sylmar resident, are master musicians for San Fernando’s Master Apprentice Program.

For the last seven years they’ve worked each week with young promising mariachi musicians at San Fernando Middle School. Alonso is also a music teacher at San Fernando High School. This win has felt as much as a community win for the kids, their parents and people who work at the local schools, they’ve all been excited to hear the news. It’s not every day that you meet a Grammy winner and for these kids, they can say their teachers are Grammy winners.

Guzman and Alonso along with the groups founder Nati Cano and other members of Los Camperos have been musicians the students have looked up to who have been their strong mentors encouraging them to embrace not only the musicianship but all that it means to be a mariachi, including the significance and pride in wearing the ”mariachi dress.”

On Saturday, when they last talked to the kids, the kids wished them luck.

“Finally after 48 years, Los Camperos gets the Grammy,said Guzman. While in 2006, they got a nomination for ¡Llegaron Los Camperos!, and in 2005 they received a Grammy in combination with an ensemble for “cELLAbration! A Tribute to Ella Jenkins,” music for children. “But this (year’s Grammy) is official for us because it’s our record,” said Guzman.

What asked what it was like to hear their name called, Guzman said it was a wonderful celebration, “It was very, very exciting because we didn’t expect to win. We never knew what was happen. The celebration was wonderful.”

The album, called ” Amor, Dolor y Lagrimas” Love, Pain and Tears was the idea of (Nati) Cano, said Guzman. “He picked the songs and I put all of the songs together. I think it’s a great album.

“I think the arrangements were very good, very high quality. The songs we picked were very good songs, like “Flor de Azalea,” “Tu Recuerdo y yo” They’re canciones del pueblo.” I don’t know about the other groups (in our category) but I listened to our recording and I thought it was pretty good. (I think it has a ) When our manager told me that the CD was nominated for a Grammy, I thought ‘What?’ I thought (they’d made) a mistake to get that nomination. In mariachi history, it’s the first time a mariachi group has received a Grammy.

I think every musician, every student wants to be at that place. To take the Grammy in your hands is a very good feeling.” Guzman and Nati Cano left for Guadalajara Tuesday, to confer with the symphony orchestra. Los Camperos have performed with Mexico’s symphony orchestras in Mexico and at Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. When he returns, he plans to write some music.

Two Mariachi groups won a Grammy Award for the first time. Mariachi Divas and Los Camperos, tied for Best regional Mexican Albumn at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8.

Amor, Dolor y Lagrimas:Música Ranchera Nati Cano’s Mariachi Los Camperos Notes - Amor, Dolor y Lágrimas (Love, Pain, and Tears) flow from the heart of the Mexican mariachi when it plays música ranchera, Mexico’s soulful “country music.” Riding the wave of mass media beginning in the 1930s, música ranchera became the single most popular vein of Mexican music by the 1950s.

Grammy-winningMariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano breathes new life into classic soulbaring rancheras and boleros in this back-to the-future recording. 47 minutes, 13 tracks, 32-page booklet, extensive notes, photos.

Mariachi Divas Tie for the Grammy with Los Camperos Since winning the Grammy, Cindy Shea, founder and Director of Mariachi Divas hasn't slept for days. "I was in shock, absolute shock. I already felt like a winner by just being nominated." She's been too excited and her email has been filled to capacity with words of congratualations.

"I just think it's the greatest award to have and it's the highest award you can have in your musical career... I just think if anything we are going to have a sense of respect now, especially for a female mariachi in this business because we are the first female mariachi to ever even to be nominated let alone .. win, so it's going to bring such incredible respect not just to the Mariachi Divas but for all the women in the Mariachi arena and open that door for everybody else to let them know that they can do it too, so I see it being inspiring." Like other members of the Divas, Shea is a mom who is proud to serve as example to motivate her child with this experience.

Shea said she was happy that so many of the "Civas" could attend and have the same experience which she describes as "surreal, " With two very different kind of mariachi groups winning in the same category, the Divas tied with the traditional mariachi group, Los Camperos,making the announcement of a tie coming as a shock to both groups.. "It was bizarre, which makes it very special I think, and it shows that there are no limits in the world of music and there is room for every body."

Describing her winning CD, Canciones De Amor, Shea described it as a blend of classical boleros with the Diva sound. "I think it's just beautiful and I think all generations just love the classical baleros and you can't go wrong with those songs and they are classics and what makes it nice is that they are recorded with a contemporary twist with the congas, flutes and the cellos very orchestral and very jazz influenced and you definately hear the Diva sound.

Alberto Jimenez Maeda did the arranging,:

When asked what's next after receiving the highest award, Shea said she will keep her eyes on big goals, "We are celebrating our 10th anniversary this year and are celebrating by going into the studio and recording our 5th CD - and we are excited about that and we'll just see what happens. I've always had big dreams and big goals and I'm going to keep dreaming and I'm not going to stop here and there will always be new things and new ventures and we'll keep making music."

The win by Mariachi Divas is quite a statement, not only because they are non-traditional but because Shea known as someone who by nature is entrepreneurial and not afraid to take chances, she has always set winning the Grammy as a goal.

"This was my dream ...and this was something when I first started with the divas and I said this on every interview I did and to every Diva I said the same thing. People laughted it off and said Cyndi's silly ...but when no one would sign me and we didn't have a record lablel, .. I started my own label, and that's where Shea Records came in and I wasn't going to let anyone stop me and I figured if you want something you have to do it yourself, no body is going to hand your dreams to you, but you can make it come true."

Canciones De Amor Mariachi Divas [Shea Records/ East Side Records]