Rubén Fuentes
Encyclopedia
Rubén Fuentes Gassón is a Mexican classical violin
ist and composer
, who is best known for his contributions to Mariachi
music. In 1944, he joined Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán
as a violin
ist and later as a music arranger. In 1955 Fuentes stopped performing in the group, but he maintains his position as producer
, musical arranger and musical director until today. As such, he had a profound influence on Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and mariachi music in general. He is best known for his work on Linda Ronstadt
's classic, Grammy award winning, multi-Platinum Canciones De Mi Padre
album. With domestic sales of two-and-a-half million copies, the Canciones De Mi Padre album stands as the biggest-selling non-English language record in US history.
Rubén Fuentes wrote dozens of Mexican standards including "La Negra", "La Culebra", "Las Alazanas", "Como Si Nada", "La Bikina", "Que Bonita Es Mi Tierra", "Flor Sin Reteño", "Ni Princesa Ni Esclava" and "Camino Real de Colima" (many composed with Silvestre Vargas
). Fuentes also produced several of Linda Ronstadt
's traditional Latin albums. His songs have been performed by Vikki Carr
, Pedro Infante
, Marco Antonio Muñiz
and Javier Solis
, among others.
Ruben Fuentes was the musical director of RCA Records
in Mexico during the late 1950s to the late 1960s. For that reason, he was the arranger and musical producer of many records of major ranchero singers. Most of them were accompanied by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. Fuentes was also the musical arranger for most of José Alfredo Jiménez
's songs, a prolific Mexican-born composer whose compositions, like Fuentes, elevated traditional Mariachi music to international heights and acclaim.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, who is best known for his contributions to Mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
music. In 1944, he joined Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán
Vargas de Tecalitlán
Vargas de Tecalitlan is a Mexican folk ensemble of mariachi music created in 1897 by Gaspar Vargas. From 1950 it has been under the artistic guidance of Rubén Fuentes. The group's musical direction has been the responsibility of Don Jose "Pepe" Martinez since 1975.-Members:A minimum mariachi group...
as a violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and later as a music arranger. In 1955 Fuentes stopped performing in the group, but he maintains his position as producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, musical arranger and musical director until today. As such, he had a profound influence on Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and mariachi music in general. He is best known for his work on Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
's classic, Grammy award winning, multi-Platinum Canciones De Mi Padre
Canciones de Mi Padre
Canciones De Mi Padre was American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt's first album of Mexican traditional Mariachi music. This album has never been out of print.-History:...
album. With domestic sales of two-and-a-half million copies, the Canciones De Mi Padre album stands as the biggest-selling non-English language record in US history.
Rubén Fuentes wrote dozens of Mexican standards including "La Negra", "La Culebra", "Las Alazanas", "Como Si Nada", "La Bikina", "Que Bonita Es Mi Tierra", "Flor Sin Reteño", "Ni Princesa Ni Esclava" and "Camino Real de Colima" (many composed with Silvestre Vargas
Silvestre Vargas
Silvestre Vargas was a Mexican mariachi musician. In 1928, he became the leader of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, an ensemble from Jalisco begun by his father in 1898. In the 1930s the group moved to Mexico City, and Vargas, along with Rubén Fuentes, became pivotal composers in the evolution of...
). Fuentes also produced several of Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
's traditional Latin albums. His songs have been performed by Vikki Carr
Vikki Carr
Vikki Carr is an American singer and humanitarian from El Paso, Texas. She has performed in a variety of music genres, including jazz, pop and country, but has enjoyed her greatest success singing in Spanish.-Career:After taking the stage name 'Vikki Carr', she signed with Liberty Records in 1962...
, Pedro Infante
Pedro Infante
José Pedro Infante Cruz , better known as Pedro Infante, is the most famous actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and is an idol of the Latinamerican people, together with Jorge Negrete and Javier Solís, who were styled the Tres Gallos Mexicanos . He was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa,...
, Marco Antonio Muñiz
Marco Antonio Muñiz
Marco Antonio Muñiz is a singer from Jalisco, Mexico. Known all over Latin America, Muñiz actually has declared publicly and in most countries he has visited, that Puerto Rico is his second country, and many Puerto Ricans consider him to be an "honorary Puerto Rican"...
and Javier Solis
Javier Solís
Javier Solís was a popular Mexican singer of boleros and rancheras, and a film actor.-Early history:...
, among others.
Ruben Fuentes was the musical director of RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in Mexico during the late 1950s to the late 1960s. For that reason, he was the arranger and musical producer of many records of major ranchero singers. Most of them were accompanied by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. Fuentes was also the musical arranger for most of José Alfredo Jiménez
José Alfredo Jiménez
José Alfredo Jiménez was a Mexican singer-songwriter in the ranchera style whose songs are considered an integral part of Mexico's musical heritage....
's songs, a prolific Mexican-born composer whose compositions, like Fuentes, elevated traditional Mariachi music to international heights and acclaim.