Mariachi music has become a strong tradition in the United States and Mariachi Los Arrieros continue to be a part of that phenomenon. Los Arrieros have been performing for El Pasoans since May of 1996 and have not only touched the hearts of people around the nation, but have also geared their knowledge in educating children in the history and traditions of mariachi music. Mariachi Los Arrieros stand by their music and their idea for the future generations of mariachis.
Arriero is a Spanish word meaning drover, the person who drives cattle or mules to their destinations. Los Arrieros have been living up to the definition of their name by guiding a younger generation in the education of the history and traditions of mariachi music. Los Arrieros have taught clinics and workshops on Mariachi music and its heritage to people of all ages in places which include: Las Cruces, Denver, Omaha, Tucson, Chandler, San Antonio, and in their hometown of El Paso. The group has embraced the name, Los Arrieros as a true educational opportunity.
While several of the members of Los Arrieros are studying to become educators most are already educating our future leaders. Los Arrieros is a young, charismatic, enthusiastic, and well-rounded musical group who love to entertain and perform. Being performers has given Los Arrieros real world experiences in their teachings, which help them to inspire students to do their best.
Since the groups' formation, Los Arrieros have won many awards. The most prestigious award was receiving first place in front of a crowd of 80,000 people in the Houston Astro Dome at the Best Mariachi in Texas competition in 1997. In 2004, Los Arrieros became the premier mariachi group for the Chandler Mariachi Conference and will remain as the host mariachi group in the coming years. The group has also performed for thousands of people all over the United States and Mexico, including the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California; Detroit, Michigan; El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas; Phoenix and Chandler, Arizona; Lovington, Las Cruces, and Albuquerque, New Mexico; Wichita, Kansas; Omaha, Nebraska; Washington DC, DC; and Juarez, Chihuahua, and Guadalajara, Mexico.
They have performed with extraordinary artists and groups including; Vicente Fernandez, Pepe Aguilar, Lucero, La Banda Recodo, Guadalupe Esparza, El Groupo Bronco, Marco Antonio Solis, El Buki, and Graciela Beltran.
Los Arrieros have been fortunate to have several national television appearances on Siempre En Domingo, The Wedding Story, Glory Road, (the Don Haskins movie) and an Oscar De La Hoya fight in the Sun Bowl on HBO. In 2005, Los Arrieros made several commercials for the El Paso Times and Withers Jewelers.
Los Arrieros display their charisma and enthusiasm in all their performances. As demonstrated in their recordings, the group has developed a hip, endearing sound without straying from the traditional mariachi style and instrumentation. Because of the recordings and wide variety of music, Los Arrieros has been described as a breath of fresh air to the more than 100-year-old tradition of mariachi music. With their third CD Ultimamente, recorded in 2005, Los Arrieros included original compositions by the musical director, Juan Contreras. The group enjoys a consistent amount of radio play in El Paso and Juarez, as well as, other towns throughout New Mexico and Colorado.
2006 celebrates the Tenth-year Anniversary and Los Arrieros is proud to present their fourth recording, Recordando Una Decada. This recording is dedicated to all our supporters, ex-members, and family whom without their devotion and support nothing could have been accomplished. As we continue to push forward for a better tomorrow we hope that Los Arrieros can continue in the right path and represent El Paso as its finest mariachi group ever.
Los Arrieros have recorded the following CD's:
1997 - Mariachi Los Arrieros
2003 - Amar Y Vivir
2005 – Ultimamente
2006 – Recordano Una Decada
2008 – Los Arrieros "LIVE" with the El Paso Wind Symphony
