RCS Mariachi

Some of the other photos include singers and iconic stars from the film industry who used to perform at the Pico Rivera Rodeo's during the summer, including Lucha Villa, Aida Cuevas, 'Chayito,' Felipe Arriaga, Vicente Fernandez (RCS 178 and 179); Amalia Mendoza (singer and star from the Golden Age, RCS 183), Lola Beltran, and Juan Valentin (RCS 184 and 185...Juan Valentin made 138 films, telenovelas, and recorded 38 albums...He was a grammy award winner, etc).

The photo of the charro in RCS 192 was the Master of Ceremonies who introduced the singers and film stars at the Rodeo. He was a well-known radio announcer during the mid-80's, but I can't recall his name. He is also in the photo with Juan Valentin and another radio announcer (RCS 185) taken after a concert at the Million Dollar Theatre in Downtown LA...that concert also included Beatriz Adriana, Amalia Mendoza, and the film comic, 'Resortes.' My boss, Pedro Rey, asked me to go to the theatre and invite the film stars and radio announcers to his restaurant after the show....so I did.

I imagine some original members from these groups who are still alive and are still playing continue to be your customers at the Pasadena shop, although the original groups have disbanded and have formed new groups...ie....Mariachi Sol De Mexico (Founder, Jose Hernandez, 3rd from the left in RCS 182, kneeling directly under me, and 4rth from the left in RCS184). Jose Hernandez, brother of Pedro Rey, pulled away from his brother's traditional mariachi accompaniment by writing orchestral arrangements for songs and medleys and took some members of Mariachi Los Galleros with him when he formed Mariachi Sol de Mexico. Jose became a grammy award-winning orchestrator, arranger, composer, and owner of the old Cielito Lindo Restaurant in El Monte and Casa del Sol (Tustin)..I think he still owns Casa Bariachi (Irvine?), but I'm not sure.

Jose Hernandez is also the founder of Mariachi Reynas de Los Angeles and Mariachi Rams. His daughter, Crystal, is a member of Mariachi Rams, along w/ his brother, 'Chuy,' (RCS 178, second from the right, and RCS 182, kneeling next to Jose, 1st from the right, and some original members of Los Galleros, including Ricardo Cisneros (directly behind me, RCS 191). Jose Hernandez has also been inducted into the Mariachi Hall of Fame. Some of his brothers in several of the photos have since passed away.

I imagine some of Jose's earliest inspiration for symphonic mariachi arrangements included Ruben Fuentes (composer of 'La Bikina,' and one of the original members, leaders, and arrangers for Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan... RCS 182, top center, to my right, wearing a tie), and 'Pepe' Jose Martinez (Leader of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan in the 80's, RCS 175, kneeling, center...me on his lap when he pulled me to the front of the stage to dance at the end of 'La Negra' at a Mariachi Conference in 1984 (?)...several mariachi bands on the stage for that piece, including Mariachi Los Galleros, Los Camperos, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Mariachi Cobre, and some children from other groups in Arizona.

Rebecca Gonzalez (RCS 175, standing behind me, 2nd from my right, wearing a black charro) left Los Camperos in LA and joined Mariachi Cobre (a well known group in another state). Rebecca was the first woman mariachi to play with Los Camperos at the La Fonda Restaurant in the 70's. She was inducted into the Mariachi Hall of fame recently. Rebecca passed away on November 24, 2024. I loved Rebecca very much. She was a trailblazer who maintained her dignity, warmth, grace and respect throughout decades of working in a machismo culture. Rebecca eventually formed her own mariachi group in Palos Verdes, Mariachi Tesoro, and continued to be a role model for young women in mariachi...she was my role model even though I didn't know it at the time. All I know is that I admired her very much, and she reminded me of a doll on stage. Rebecca used to sing 'Blue Bayou' and 'Aires de Mayab' when she was at La Fonda. She had a 'clean,' clear' voice, and led an equally clean life in an environment which was full of dangers of all sorts.

Jose Hernandez continues to accompany and record with well-known singers today, including Shaila Durcal (daughter of Rocio Durcal) and Louis Miguel. I am certain that the original members of these groups (and their children) continue to be your customers and flood you with work, although they may be in and out of any number of groups as freelancers today (in the 80's and 90's the members of Mariachi Los Galleros and Los Camperos, and even Mariachi Sol de Mexico, were not permitted to freelance or even go to school to get an education because the members had to be on call for rehearsals...and going to a concert or to the theatre was impossible.

I imagine my friend, Hector Gama (RCS 183, 1st from the left), Ramon (Ramos??? RCS 191, behind me, 1st from the right); and Oscar Perez (RCS 188, behind me, 1st from the right), were some of your customers in the 80's and early 90's.