Los Tigres del Norte
Encyclopedia
Los Tigres del Norte is a norteño
-band ensemble based out of San Jose, California, hailing from Rosa Morada, Sinaloa
, Mexico
.
in the late 1960s, when all the members were still in their teens. They were sponsored by a local record company, Discos Fama, owned by an Englishman named Art Walker, who took them under his wing and helped them find jobs and material, as well as recording all of their early albums.
The Tigres were at first only locally popular, but took off after Jorge and Art Walker heard a Los Angeles mariachi singer perform a song in the early 1970s about a couple of drug runners, Emilio Varela and Camelia la Texana. There had been occasional ballads (corrido
s, in Mexican terminology) about the cross-border drug trade ever since Prohibition in the 1920s, but never a song as cinematic as this, featuring a woman smuggler who shoots the man and takes off with the money. After getting permission to record this song, Los Tigres del Norte released "Contrabando y Traición" ("Contraband and Betrayal") in 1974. The song quickly hit on both sides of the border, inspired a series of movies, and kicked off one of the most remarkable careers in Spanish-language pop music.
In Norteño/conjunto form (a style featuring accordion that originated along the Texas border region), Los Tigres del Norte have been able to portray "real life" in a manner that strikes a chord with people across the Americas
. Many of their most popular songs consist of tales or corrido
s about life, love, and the struggle to survive in an imperfect world. They regularly touch on the subject of narcotics and illegal immigration
, but they have also shared stories of love and betrayal between a man and a woman. Together, the band and its public has turned norteño music into an international genre. The band has modernized the music, infusing it with bolero
, cumbia
, rock rhythms, waltz
es, as well as effects of machine guns and sirens integrated with the music.
The band has won five Latin Grammy Awards and sold 32 million records.
On January 9, 2007, Los Tigres del Norte was honored as a BMI
Icon at the 14th annual BMI Latin Awards. Los Tigres, who were saluted that evening with an all-star musical tribute, were being honored as BMI Icons for their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” They joined an elite list that includes such Latin music giants as Juan Luis Guerra and Carlos Santana.
They have performed before the United States Armed Forces
in Japan
and South Korea
.
In 2010, the band made headlines by joining in a massive international boycott
of the US
State of Arizona
, in response to the state's new and controversial Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act
.
El Que Tanto Te Amo ( 1978 ) Single
Rio Magdalena ( 1978 )
Singles Collection, never included in any Long Play
Las Tres Mujeres
Los Sufrimientos
Polka Texas
Ya Cambiara Mi Destino
Juana
Morena De San Francisco
Mi Caballo Ensillado
No Llorare
Rio Magadalena
El Que Tanto Te Amo
Hermosa Luna
Los Vigilantes
Norteño (music)
Norteño , also norteña or conjunto, is a genre of Mexican music. The accordion and the bajo sexto are norteño's most characteristic instruments. The norteño genre is popular in both Mexico and the United States, especially among the Mexican community...
-band ensemble based out of San Jose, California, hailing from Rosa Morada, Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
History
The group was started by Jorge Hernández, his brothers, and his cousins. They began recording after moving to San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
in the late 1960s, when all the members were still in their teens. They were sponsored by a local record company, Discos Fama, owned by an Englishman named Art Walker, who took them under his wing and helped them find jobs and material, as well as recording all of their early albums.
The Tigres were at first only locally popular, but took off after Jorge and Art Walker heard a Los Angeles mariachi singer perform a song in the early 1970s about a couple of drug runners, Emilio Varela and Camelia la Texana. There had been occasional ballads (corrido
Corrido
The corrido is a popular narrative song and poetry form, a ballad, of Mexico. The songs are often about oppression, history, daily life for peasants, and other socially important information. It is still a popular form today, and was widely popular during the Mexican Revolution and Nicaraguan...
s, in Mexican terminology) about the cross-border drug trade ever since Prohibition in the 1920s, but never a song as cinematic as this, featuring a woman smuggler who shoots the man and takes off with the money. After getting permission to record this song, Los Tigres del Norte released "Contrabando y Traición" ("Contraband and Betrayal") in 1974. The song quickly hit on both sides of the border, inspired a series of movies, and kicked off one of the most remarkable careers in Spanish-language pop music.
In Norteño/conjunto form (a style featuring accordion that originated along the Texas border region), Los Tigres del Norte have been able to portray "real life" in a manner that strikes a chord with people across the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. Many of their most popular songs consist of tales or corrido
Corrido
The corrido is a popular narrative song and poetry form, a ballad, of Mexico. The songs are often about oppression, history, daily life for peasants, and other socially important information. It is still a popular form today, and was widely popular during the Mexican Revolution and Nicaraguan...
s about life, love, and the struggle to survive in an imperfect world. They regularly touch on the subject of narcotics and illegal immigration
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
, but they have also shared stories of love and betrayal between a man and a woman. Together, the band and its public has turned norteño music into an international genre. The band has modernized the music, infusing it with bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
, cumbia
Cumbia
Cumbia is a music genre popular across Latin America. The cumbia originated in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where it is associated with an eponymous dance and has since spread as far as Mexico and Argentina...
, rock rhythms, waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
es, as well as effects of machine guns and sirens integrated with the music.
The band has won five Latin Grammy Awards and sold 32 million records.
On January 9, 2007, Los Tigres del Norte was honored as a BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
Icon at the 14th annual BMI Latin Awards. Los Tigres, who were saluted that evening with an all-star musical tribute, were being honored as BMI Icons for their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” They joined an elite list that includes such Latin music giants as Juan Luis Guerra and Carlos Santana.
They have performed before the United States Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
In 2010, the band made headlines by joining in a massive international boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
of the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
State of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, in response to the state's new and controversial Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act
Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act
The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act is a legislative Act in the U.S. state of Arizona that at the time of passage was the broadest and strictest anti-illegal immigration measure in recent U.S. history...
.
Members
- Jorge Hernandez – directorMusic directorA music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
, lead vocals, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist.... - Hernan Hernandez – electric bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Eduardo Hernández – accordion, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, bajo sextoBajo sextoA bajo sexto is a musical instrument with 12 strings in 6 double courses, used in Mexican music. It is used primarily in norteño music of northern Mexico and across the border in the music of south Texas known as "Tex-Mex", "conjunto, or "música mexicana-tejana".A similar instrument with five...
, vocals - Luis Hernández – bajo sexto, vocals
- Oscar Lara – drums
Former members
- Raúl Hernández – bajo sexto, vocals
- Guadalupe Olivo – saxophone, accordion
- Freddy Hernandez – percussion (DeceasedDeathDeath is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
)
Discography
This list excludes the many "Greatest Hits" compilations.- Juana La Traicionera/Por el Amor a Mis Hijos (1971)
- Cuquita (1971) (Official first album)
- Sufro Porque te Quiero/La Cochicuina (1972)
- "Mi Caballo Ensilado" (Single) (1973)
- Si,Si,Si/Chayo Chaires (1973)
- El cheque (1972)Mexican Release album compilation of Por Amor A Mis Hijos / Sufro Porque Te Quiero
- "No Llorare" (Single) (1974)
- Contrabando Y traición (1974)
- La banda del carro rojo (1975)
- La tumba del mojado-Internacionalmente norteños (1976)
- Pueblo querido (1976)
- Vivan los mojados (1977)
- Numero Ocho (1978)
El Que Tanto Te Amo ( 1978 ) Single
Rio Magdalena ( 1978 )
- "Hermosa Luna" (Single)(1979)
- El Tahúr (1979)
- Plaza Garibaldi (1980)
- ...un día a la vez! (1981)
- Éxitos para siempre... (1982)
- Carrera contra la muerte (1983)
- Jaula de oro (1983)
- "Adolfo Mi Compadre" (Single) ( 1984)
- A ti madrecita (1985)
- El Otro México (1986)
- Gracias América...Sin Fronteras (1986)
- Ídolos Del Pueblo (1988)
- Corridos Prohibidos (1989)
- Triunfo Sólido - Mi Buena Suerte (1989)
- Para adoloridos (1990)
- Incansables! (1991)
- Con Sentimiento y Sabor - Tan Bonita (1992)
- Una Noche Con Los Tigres Del Norte (1992)
- La garra de... (1993)
- Los Dos Plebes (1994)
- El Ejemplo (1995)
- Unidos Para Siempre (1996)
- Jefe de JefesJefe de Jefes-Disc 2:-Personnel:*Eduardo Hernández — arranger, art direction, mixing*James Dean — engineer, mastering, mixing*Arjan McNamara — mastering*Joseph Pope — assistant engineer*Los Tigres del Norte — mixing*Hernán Hernández — band member...
(1997) - Así Como Tú (1997)
- Herencia De Familia (1999)
- De Paisano A Paisano (2000)
- Uniendo FronterasUniendo FronterasUniendo Fronteras is the title of a studio album released by norteño music group Los Tigres del Norte. This album became their second number-one hit on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.-Tracklisting:...
(2001) - La Reina del SurLa Reina del SurLa Reina del Sur is the title of a studio album released by norteño music group Los Tigres del Norte. This album became their third number-one hit on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album.-Tracklisting:This...
(2002) - Pacto de SangrePacto de Sangre (album)-DVD tracklisting:-Chart performance:-Sales and certifications:...
(2004) - Directo al Corazón (2005)
- Historias que Contar (2006)
- Detalles y Emociones (2007)
- Raíces (album) (2008)
- Tu Noche con Los Tigres del NorteTu Noche con Los Tigres del NorteTu Noche con Los Tigres del Norte Is a 2009 Album by Norteno Band Los Tigres del Norte.-Tracks:#Intro#Somos Mas Americanos - #Los Dos Plebes - #Cuestion Olvidada -...
(2008) - La Granja (2009)
- MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and FriendsMTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and FriendsMTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends is a live album by Mexican recording artists Los Tigres del Norte. Released by Fonovisa Records on May 24, 2011, it was recorded before a live audience at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2011...
(2011)
Singles Collection, never included in any Long Play
Las Tres Mujeres
Los Sufrimientos
Polka Texas
Ya Cambiara Mi Destino
Juana
Morena De San Francisco
Mi Caballo Ensillado
No Llorare
Rio Magadalena
El Que Tanto Te Amo
Hermosa Luna
Los Vigilantes
External links
- Official website (in Spanish & English)
- Los Tigres del Norte at MySpace.com
- Los Tigres del Norte on YouTube.com
- Los Tigres del Norte el Club, fans' club website
- Interview with Acceso Total, video (in Spanish)