Rubén Fuentes

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Rubén Fuentes Gassón (*Ciudad Guzmán, February 15, 1926), is a Mexican classical violinist and composer, who is best known for his contributions to mariachi music. In 1944, he joined Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán as a violinist and later as a music arranger. In 1955 Fuentes stopped performing in the group, but he maintains his position as producer, musical arranger and musical director until today. As such, he had a profound influence on Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan and mariachi music in general.

Rubén Fuentes wrote dozens of Mexican standards including "La Negra," "La Culebra," "Las Alazanas," "Como Si Nada," "La Bikina," "Que Bonita Es Mi Tierra," "Flor Sin Reteño," "Ni Princesa Ni Esclava" and "Camino Real de Colima" (many composed with Silvestre Vargas). Fuentes also produced several of Linda Ronstadt's traditional Latin albums. His songs have been performed by Vikki Carr, Pedro Infante, Marco Antonio Muniz and Javier Solis, among others.

Ruben Fuentes was the musical director of RCA Records in Mexico during the late 1950s to the late 1960s. For that reason, he was the arranger and musical producer of many records of major ranchero singers. Most of them were accompanied by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. Fuentes was also the arranger of most of the song of Jose Alfredo Jimenez.