Latin Grammy Winner AIDA CUEVAS Celebrates Mariachi At The McCallum

The Queen of Mexican Music, Aida Cuevas and America's first all-female mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, unite for ¡Viva la Mujer Mariachi!, a concert extravaganza celebrating women in mariachi on Saturday, October 15, at 8:00pm. Latin Grammy winner Aida Cuevas is Mexico's most important female voice celebrating a long lasting career, leaving a remarkable imprint in the history of Mexican music. Today's highest example of female mariachi performance, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles bring sensitivity, beauty, warmth, and a vivacious spirit to the historic art of mariachi.

Aida Cuevas has created one of the most important careers in the traditional Mexican and Latin American music. Affectionately known as "The Queen of Ranchera Music," Aida celebrates 40 years of an artistic career. Latin Grammy Award winner and multi-nominated, she has released 37 albums, selling more than 8 million copies worldwide.

Aida began singing in amateur contests at the age of 11 and was quickly discovered because of her exceptional talent. Her first national exposure was singing in a weekly live radio program called "El Taller XEW" at the age of 12 years. A year later, she was performing on stages across Europe. These performances quickly led her to be known as "La Voz de Mexico," (The Voice of Mexico) at an early age. Since 1976, her talent has led her to perform across four continents.

Aida is a master of the mariachi art song, offering a full range of mariachi numbers, including her infamous falsetto heavyweight "El Pastor," her iconic Juan Gabriel hits, including "Te Doy Las Gracias," "Te Vas a Quedar Con Las Ganas," and "Quizas Manana," to the people pleasers "Tracion a Juan," "Me Equivoque Contigo," and "No Me Amenaces."

Aida's unique voice and style have allowed her to cultivate a successful career spanning decades, leaving a remarkable imprint on the history of Mexican music.

MARIACHI REYNA DE LOS ANGELES
Perhaps the greatest tribute to Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles - the first all-female mariachi in the United States - is that now there are actually other all-female mariachi groups. It is growing proof that when mariachi Maestro Jose Hernandez created Reyna de Los Angeles, it wasn't a novelty, it was a genre.

Reyna, which was formed in 1994, has taken the history of women in mariachi music from being solely singers to being the full complement of musical performers. The compliments have not stopped. In a musical landscape where songs are often written by men, about male perspectives. Reyna has created its own history.

That history had the best of beginning with the mentorship of Lola Beltran, "La Reina de la Musica Ranchera," who created confidence among the members in the early years.

While Maestro Hernandez often credits the tremendous contributions of Beltran and other early contributors, Reyna could not have been created if not for his vision. Always ahead of the curve, Maestro Hernandez saw the potential to include more people in the rich heritage of mariachi music, and the opportunity to include more families in learning and performing.

"I knew there were enough excellent female musicians to do it, and I didn't want guys to say, 'They play like girls,'" says Maestro Hernandez. "Now guys from other groups come up to me and tell me that they can't get over how these girls sound so amazing. It's because they sound like angels, and that's why they are named after the City of Angels."

Reyna has gained fame for the stars they have shared the stage with, such as Vicki Carr, Guadalupe Pineda, Miguel Aceves Mejia and Lucha Villa, but they have gained even greater acclaim for the stars they have performed in front of: Tom Petty, the Dodger's Nomar Garciaparra and his soccer-star wife Mia Hamm, John Travolta, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, Robin Williams, Sean Penn and the late George Harrison of the Beatles.

The success has propelled Reyna de Los Angeles to record two successful albums produced by Maestro Hernandez; Solo Tuya (Yours Only) and El Mejor Mariachi Femenino del Mundo (The Best Female Mariachi in the World).

It is not just the title of the record; it's a proud legacy for a new world of mariachi music.

Que Vivan Las Mujeres!

Tickets for this performance of Aida Cuevas and Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles on Saturday, October 15, at 8:00pm are priced at $87, $67, $47 and $27. Tickets are available at the Theatre's website at www.mccallumtheatre.com or by calling the McCallum Theatre Box Office at (760) 340-ARTS.

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