Post by David Gordon Burke on Jan 1, 2005 17:26:58 GMT -5
Los Tigres Del Norte
Los Tigres Del Norte are something like the Beatles of Mexican music. For over 30 years, they have been one of the top groups in Mexican Norteño music, and they show no sign of slowing down. Los Tigres were originally a group of three brothers and a cousin from the village of Rosa Morada in the north of Mexico’s West Coast state of Sinaloa, playing accordion, bass, drums and bajo sexto.
While still in his teens, Jorge Hernadez brought his young siblings with him on a trip to San Jose, California, to play at a Mexican Independence Day celebration. The story is that as they were crossing the border, an immigration officer, impressed by their daring at coming over so young, dubbed them “Little Tigers” and the name stuck.
Shortly after arriving in the US and acheiving moderate success, Los Tigres del Norte released "Contrabando y Traicion" (Contraband and Betrayal) in 1972, which tells the story of a couple of marijuana smugglers, Camelia the Texan and her boyfriend, who carry a load to Los Angeles, where he tries to leave her and she shoots him dead. The song became a huge international hit in the early 1970s, spawning two sequels, a string of hit movies, and a genre that has come to be known as the narcocorrido.
Over the years, Los Tigres have recorded dozens of narcocorridos, including classic hits like “La Banda del Carro Rojo” (The Red Car Gang), “La Camioneta Gris” (The Grey Pickup), “Pacas de a Kilo” (One-Kilo Packets), and “Jefe de Jefes” (Boss of Bosses).
Los Tigres del Norte are the Mexican immigrant experience personified. Like thousands of immigrants, they crossed the border and made it in America but never lost touch with their Mexicanness. Like the Mexican-immigrant community, they are virtually unknown to American society at large.
Aside from Narcocorridos, Los Tigres are know for nostagic songs that speak to the immigrant Mexican in the US, particularly the tragic “Jaula de Oro” (Cage of Gold) which established Los Tigres as the most socially conscious band on the scene.
Their most recent release, "Pacto De Sangre," (Blood Pact) continues their bold tradition of socially consious lyrics and includes "Las Mujeres De Juárez" a direct challenge to both the Mexican and American Governments to address the assassination of young women in Juarez city, Chihuahua.
Aside from longevity it may be the fact that Los Tigres del Norte have always told it like it is that has made them "Los Idolos del Pueblo."
Los Tigres Del Norte are something like the Beatles of Mexican music. For over 30 years, they have been one of the top groups in Mexican Norteño music, and they show no sign of slowing down. Los Tigres were originally a group of three brothers and a cousin from the village of Rosa Morada in the north of Mexico’s West Coast state of Sinaloa, playing accordion, bass, drums and bajo sexto.
While still in his teens, Jorge Hernadez brought his young siblings with him on a trip to San Jose, California, to play at a Mexican Independence Day celebration. The story is that as they were crossing the border, an immigration officer, impressed by their daring at coming over so young, dubbed them “Little Tigers” and the name stuck.
Shortly after arriving in the US and acheiving moderate success, Los Tigres del Norte released "Contrabando y Traicion" (Contraband and Betrayal) in 1972, which tells the story of a couple of marijuana smugglers, Camelia the Texan and her boyfriend, who carry a load to Los Angeles, where he tries to leave her and she shoots him dead. The song became a huge international hit in the early 1970s, spawning two sequels, a string of hit movies, and a genre that has come to be known as the narcocorrido.
Over the years, Los Tigres have recorded dozens of narcocorridos, including classic hits like “La Banda del Carro Rojo” (The Red Car Gang), “La Camioneta Gris” (The Grey Pickup), “Pacas de a Kilo” (One-Kilo Packets), and “Jefe de Jefes” (Boss of Bosses).
Los Tigres del Norte are the Mexican immigrant experience personified. Like thousands of immigrants, they crossed the border and made it in America but never lost touch with their Mexicanness. Like the Mexican-immigrant community, they are virtually unknown to American society at large.
Aside from Narcocorridos, Los Tigres are know for nostagic songs that speak to the immigrant Mexican in the US, particularly the tragic “Jaula de Oro” (Cage of Gold) which established Los Tigres as the most socially conscious band on the scene.
Their most recent release, "Pacto De Sangre," (Blood Pact) continues their bold tradition of socially consious lyrics and includes "Las Mujeres De Juárez" a direct challenge to both the Mexican and American Governments to address the assassination of young women in Juarez city, Chihuahua.
Aside from longevity it may be the fact that Los Tigres del Norte have always told it like it is that has made them "Los Idolos del Pueblo."