Welcome to the

2nd annual International Mariachi Festival Vancouver 2008

DIOS NUNCA MUERE

Homenaje al inmortal

Pedro Infante

Undoubtedly, Pedro Infante was -and still is- the idol of Mexico. Because of his movies (59 including 55 first roles and 4 cameos), records (366 songs recorded between 1943 and 1956) and public appearances in Mexico and Latin America, Infante became a star and the most beloved human being in Mexican history. His fame and the phenomenon of his stardom hasn't been matched by ane movie star in the years following his death. The main reason of this can be found in the extraordinary quality of his acting abilites, his beautiful singing and something called "charm" that can't be learned or acquired. He wa s a natural actor, perfectly matched with all his costars, no matter if they were male or female, children or grandmothers. Althought practically of all his films were great box-office hits and still are re-runned on a daily basis on TV, the most popular of them were the "trilogy of bittersweet poverty" Nosotros lo s pobres (1947), Ustedes los ricos (1947) and Pepe El Toro (1952) and the comedies Tres García, Los (1946), Vuelven Los García (1946), Tres huastecos, Los (1948), A Toda Maquina (1951), Qué te ha Dado esa Mujer (1951) and Dos Tipos de Cuidado (1952). He was the good friend, the good son, the romantic in love, the caring father, the sexy singer, the "macho" with a heart. He was capable to move the feelings of men and women who found in him someone closely related to their lives. His death on a plane crash in 1957 is still one of the most remembered events in recent Mexican history. Since then, his popularity has grown reaching generations of Mexicans born after their idol was gone.

Saturday November 29th, 2008

featuring Mariachis from

CANADA, USA and MEXICO

reserve your tickets now..

more info at (1) 604 338 4064

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Mariachi music was a proud representation of Mexico , a key piece in a developing national identity, and their popularity soared. Radio introduced their sound to a whole new expanse of listeners, and they further gained a worldwide audience through depictions in movies in the fifties. Though the popularity of the mariachi suffered abroad in the sixties and seventies, by the eighties, it was enjoying a resurgence. Now, the sound and sight of mariachi has wound itself into our collective conscious as a symbol of all that is Mexico .When summoning up thoughts of Mexico , the image of strolling mariachi's goes hand in hand with culture and tradition. Visions of musicians, clad in stunning charro suits and hats, float in front of our minds eye and we can practically hear the guitars, violins, visuals, basses and trumpets.

At our 2nd annual International Mariachi Festival Vancouver 2008 , you'll discover your favorite song, while you sway to the sounds of Mariachi. Imagine yourself being serenaded under a warm sunset, cast in brilliant reds and yellows, as this legendary liquid imparts a warmth all its own into your very soul. Our hope is that as you visit these pages, you are inspired to take your own personal journey into the essence of Mexico ...

If the hairs on your arms stand up at such a memory, you have been touched by the proud tradition which is mariachi. If you haven't yet had such an experience, you must. Many of us have enjoyed mariachi music locally, in restaurants or at cultural events and parties. Yet, it is to see them while in Mexico , strolling down the street, or serenading on a moonlit night, that true insight is provided into why this music has endured for generations.Their songs tell a million different stories, as widely varied as from romance to death. They hold the secrets of an entire nation's history, from tales of wartime heroes to political revolutions. All the legend of the machismo of Mexico is held up in their soaring trumpets and proud stance.Whether you are one who has never had a truly Mexican experience of Mexico, or are one whose fond memories of this warm land are already wrapped up in the melodies of mariachi, we invite you to enjoy their crisp, vivid and sweet sounds at our

2nd annual International Mariachi Festival Vancouver 2008

 

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1st annual International Mariachi Festival Vancouver 2007

 

MEXICO EN LA PIEL

Homenaje a

Javier Solis

Born Gabriel Siria Levario, Javier Solis became known as one of the most recognized Mariachi solo artists in Mexico. Coming from humble beginnings, at a young age Solis had to drop out of school to help support his family. He trained as an amateur boxer for six years with aspirations of turning professional, but quit after his father urged him to choose a more "decent" career. The young man used to sing in local competitions for small prizes (such as a pair of new shoes), but was eventually banned from participating because he so dominated the competition.

At age 16, Solis went to Puebla, Mexico to sing with Mariachi Metepec, but it wasn't until years later when Julito Rodriguez and Alfredo Gil of the trio Los Panchos heard him singing at a local bar that he got his first break as a recording artist. They took him to audition with CBS records where he signed a recording contract and cut his first album in 1950. His first hit, "Lloraras," came two years later and prompted his producer Felipe Valdes Leal to give him the name Javier Solis. The vocalist came to international acclaim in 1957, making appearances in the United States, Central, and South America. Solis was the first to sing songs in a style now known as "Boleros-Rancheras." He sang boleros typically associated with trio music but now accompanied by mariachis, also adding waltzes and tangos to his repertoire as a prolific interpreter of many styles of music.Not content with simply performing as a recording artist, Solis began his acting career in 1959; filming more than 20 movies with stars such as Maria Victoria, Lola Beltran, and Luis Aguilar. Javier Solis died in 1966 at age 33 from complications resulting from gall bladder surgery, leaving behind a brief but memorable musical legacy.

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