Susie Garcia

Suzanne Garcia is better known as "Susie" to all her fans, friends, and family, and if you are not laughing, crying, smiling, or dancing when she is onstage, then she thinks that she hasn't done her job. With a keen ear for music, she began playing violin as a child. With the encouragement of her parents (both avid Mariachi fans and music aficionados), Susie was introduced to a genre of music rooted in tradition and cultural pride.

In 1991, Susie made her first appearance at the Hollywood Bowl for a "Tribute to Women in Mariachi". Little did she know, a few years later the explosion of all-female Mariachi ensembles would begin. Susie returned to the Hollywood bowl three more times as a member of Mariachi Las Adelitas (1997) as well as Mariachi Las Alondras(1998, 1999). While a student member of the UCLA Mariachi in 1994, under the direction of Chuy Guzman of Mariachi Los Camperos, Susie, a second generation Mexican-American, felt a need to return to her roots in exploration of the language and the land where Mariachi music was born. In 1997, she attended La Universidad Autónoma de México in Mexico City and returned with new insight and understanding to music and culture.

In 1999, Susie helped pioneer one of the first modern all-female run and directed mariachi bands in Los Angeles by the name of Mariachi Divas. During her 9 year stint with the Divas, Susie performed at numerous concerts and festivals throughout Los Angeles and the Southwestern United States including countless television and radio appearances. In 2008, she even had the honor of recording on the Divas grammy winning album “Canciones de Amor”.

Throughout her musical career, Susie has had the opportunity of accompanying artists such as: Graciela Beltran, Carmen Jarra, Joan Sebastian, Chayanne, Alejandro Sanz, Marco Antonio Solis, and Son by Four. She has also made appearances on stage at the Alma Awards and the Ritmo Latino Music Awards. Along with her musical talents, Susie has a strong commitment to education. After receiving her Bachelor's degree in Spanish Literature from UCLA in 1998, Susie completed her Masters Degree in Career Counseling from Chapman University in 2000.

In May of 2008, Susie performed with Lila Downs in "Ren", an art Film directed by World Renown Artist Matthew Barney. In fall of 2009, Susie was sought out by Richard Montoya of the nation's most prominent Chicano-Latino performance troupe "Culture Clash" and well known Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic director Bill Rauch to take on the role of Musical Director for a month long theatre performance of "Peace" at the Getty Villa.

Susie is currently working with upcoming Chicano fusion band CHICOA where some of her own creativity and compositions from her newly released solo album, “Esa Guerita” are coming to life. With all that and more on her plate, Susie continues singing and playing weekly with "Las Colibri" at "Casa Moreno" and “La Fonda” in Los Angeles.