Las Pioneras de Mexico

Mariachi Las Pioneras de Mexico is a group of venerable divas of mariachi and ranchera who been actively playing music since the 1950's and '60's.   Ranging in age from their early 70s to their mid-80s, they are all former members of three  historic groups from the golden age of Mexican folk music -- Mariachi Las Coronelas, Mariachi Las Adelitas and Mariachi Estrellas de Mexico --  which were the true pioneers of first generation female mariachi players.

Music historian and musicologist Jonathan Clarke had done a study of these early groups and had reason to believe that some of these women were still alive and well in Mexico City.  At his urging In August of 2007, Laura Sobrino, along with Nancy Munoz, travelled to Mexico City to seek out and interview these living legends.  They were amazed to discover that most of these women were still playing music professionally and that a second generation of Pioneras had emerged, the daughters and nieces of the original musicians, some of whom had also played in the three original groups.

With the help of Antonio Covurrubias, Laura and Nancy conducted a series of interviews with these women, eventually bringing them to the United States for a series of lectures and performances in 2009.  During this time, the women became inspired to form a new band, calling it Los Pioneras de Mexico.

In 2012 Doris Dorrie, Germanys premier woman film director, spent eight weeks with her crew in Plaza Garibaldi, directing Que Caramba Es La Vida, a gritty documentary on the daily lives of the women who play mariachi in Mexico City.  Antonio Covarrubias, who helped Doris with the production, suggested that Las Pioneras be included in the film.  Although they rarely play in Plaza Garibaldi, these women truly embody the spirit of mariachi feminil and have endured despite all within their music.

In 2013 Helge Sasse, an executive producer of the film, invited Rachel Faro, a well-known woman record producer of Latin and world music, to record an album of the artists and music appearing in the film. With the assistance of some of Mexico Citys most dedicated mariachi players and award-winning recording engineer Alejandro Colinas, an album of classic rancheras were recorded. Las Pioneras are joined on two tracks by ranchera singer Maria Del Carmen, who represents the new generation of these women.

In March of 2014 several members of Las Pioneras journeyed to Austin Texas to appear at South by Southwest, where the film Que Caramba Es La Vida also had its world premier.  Onstage they were joined by several younger-generation pioneras from the States, all of whom share a bond in their passion for performing mariachi music.  There they were welcomed with open arms, by music-lovers and by young Mexican-Americans who already were their devoted fans.

Las Pioneras de Mexico are looking forward to this new chapter of their careers.   Their musical performance will take you back in time to the golden era of Mexican folk music.   Not only are the voices seasoned after years of singing and playing, the arrangements are those that these ladies played back in the 1950s and 60s elegant, antique and charming.