Mariachi Vargas

Mariachi Vargas was founded in 1897 by Don Gaspar Vargas. Since 1950, it has been under the leadership of Ruben Fuentes. Don Jose Martínez was the leader from 1975 to 2014. The ensemble is currently under the direction of Carlos Martínez.

Mariachi Vargas appointment

In 1931 Gaspar Vargas gave the leadership of Mariachi Vargas to his son, Silvestre Vargas. The ensemble won first place in Mariachi contests in Guadalajara in 1933 and in Mexico City in 1934. President Lazaro Cardenas appointed the group as the official Mariachi of the Mexico City Police Department and the group moved to Mexico City where they remained for twenty years.

Mariachi Vargas in motion pictures

In 1937, Mariachi Vargas appeared in Asi Es Mi Tierra, the first of more than 200 motion pictures. In that same year they made their first recording and signed an exclusive contract with RCA. Mariachi Vargas has since produced more than fifty recordings. The group continued their performances in the 50s under the guidance of violinist Ruben Fuentes, who still works with the group as a producer, musical arranger, and musical director.

In 1986, Linda Ronstadt appeared with Mariachi Vargas at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference where she sang in Spanish for the first time. This was followed by the release in 1987 of the Grammy-winning album Canciones de Mi Padre, featuring Mariachi Vargas. She also went on a national tour with the group, giving greater international exposure to Mariachi music than ever before and creating a new audience for Mariachi music among non-Hispanics.

In 1997, Mariachi Vargas celebrated 100 years since its founding.