Twenty years ago, in 1987, Linda Ronstadt released a Mexican album leading her to award winning praise and world renowned cross-over success.  The album, entitled Canciones de Mi Padre (Songs of My Father), became the fastest selling non-English album during that time and brought Ronstadt back to her Mexican-American roots from her childhood in Tucson, Arizona.  

Performing on the album with Ronstadt were four Mariachi bands.  These traditional bands include singers, guitars, trumpets, and violins.  As multi-talented musicians, the Mariachi’ are exuberant in their composition and a national treasure to the Mexican people.  One group, the Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, is world renown for its innovative style.  In existence for almost 50 years, this lively mariachi band is so popular they have recorded nine albums and recently won a Grammy.

Pairing for one night only, songstress Ronstadt and the vivacious Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano entertained and amused an audience at UCLA’s Royce Hall.  Royce hall is exquisite.  The acclaimed acoustics make any performer sound great and the best performers sound magnificent.   The ceilings are high and even with over 1800 seats the audience feels intimate. 

The evening began with the Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano igniting the audience with their vigorous music and magnetic personalities.  Their tan and orange traditional costumes fit snuggly, paired with large sombreros.  The band expertly played their instruments and sang in perfect harmony.  As my favorite part of the night, the band’s contagious love for mariachi music spread to the audience that sang along and cheered wildly.  Adoring their charm, even the gringos desperately wanted to be Mexican for a night.

After several songs, Linda Ronstadt joined the band.  Ronstadt sang beautifully and her voice was clear and soothing, soaring magnificently to the last row.   She sang with confidence and deep-rooted emotion for this culture.   Recently saying in regards to the songs, “They’re about growing the land, and romance blooming in that context.  The songs are more complex sexually, I think, than the romantic love we grew up on.” As beautiful as the songs Ronstadt sang were, the audience’s energy sank when Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano became her accompaniment.  The band’s entertaining style was hindered playing back up, unable to display their pizzazz.

Regarded as one of the most important features in Mexican culture, colorful folkloric dancers performed during several of the pieces.  The women wore brightly colored dresses in purple and orange while the men wore traditional “charro” suits. One of the most significant features of this dance tradition is the "Mexican hat dance", known as "Jarabe Tapatío".   Ronstadt performed this close to the end of the show with all the traditional dancers performing the spirited sequence of hopping steps, heel and toe tapping movements. 

The show was filled with energy, romance, and cultural significance.  Ronstadt has been a musical heavyweight for 40 years.  Once again she proves her classic albums remain relevant in music today.

For more information regarding this performance, visit www.uclalive.org