La Mafia
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From its roots in the Northside neighborhood of Houston, Texas, the three-time Grammy Award-winning musical group La Mafia has charted a course as one of Latin Music’s most influential bands.
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[edit] History
La Mafia was founded in 1980 by Oscar De La Rosa, and Armando Lichtenberger Jr. at Henry’s Night Club, a bar owned by Oscar’s family. De La Rosa, as vocalist, and Lichtenberger, as keyboardist, accordion player and the band’s producer, were joined by David De La Garza III on keyboards and vocals in 1988, Tim Ruiz Jr. on bass in 1996, Joe Gonzales on drums in 2003 and Ivo Bove on guitar in 2004. The band’s original name was Los Jovenes.
La Mafia, seeking to expand their musical horizons, began touring extensively in Mexico and Latin America beginning in the late 1980s. The practice of Mexican-American artists performing in Mexico on a large scale was unheard of before La Mafia. Back home, La Mafia has performed in front of three record-setting crowds at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at the Houston Astrodome.
[edit] Discography
Since 1993, La Mafia has recorded each of its hits at its own Urbana Recording Studios, including the million-selling “Estas Tocando Fuego” and Ahora y Siempre.” The band has recorded 35 albums and CDs, not including dozens of compilation and greatest hits releases.
[edit] Awards and recognitions
La Mafia received Grammy Awards for its CDs “Un Million De Rosas” and “En Tus Manos.” It also has received eight Premio Lo Nuestro Awards and 12 Tejano Music Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the latter, ranking La Mafia as the most successful Latin artist Houston has ever produced.