At the end of the last century, while the representative music of Mexico was emerging in the state of Jalisco, Mexican-Americans in the United States continued to cultivate their own traditions. Among the most valued aspects of their heritage was music.In 1964, an Irish-Catholic priest organized the first young Mariachi group of Mexican-Americans in the United States. Later, in 1971, after having collaborated almost from the birth of this group, Randy Carrillo, a student, organized Mariachi Cobre with the participation of his younger brother Steve and his friend Mack Ruiz.
1996 marks a quarter century during which this extremely professional group of young Mexican-American men (nearly all from Tucson) have sung and played the music of Mexico, not only in the United States but as ambassadors in other countries and via international television.
In 1981, Mariachi Cobre planted the seed from which the Tucson International Mariachi Conference would grow. This celebration is a concept that has spread to other U.S. cities where similar events are held. These cultural events have not only increased the exposure of Mariachi music but have caused an emergence of dozens of young groups and have heightened the level of study related to Mariachi music.
The XXV anniversary celebration is a source of pride for the renowned Mariachi Cobre who, with their strong sense of tradition, promotes the music of Mexico to the entire world.
