Mariachi los Camperos
Mariachi los Camperos de Nati Cano is a Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles-based mariachi ensemble which was formerly led by Natividad "Nati" Cano, who also gave the band its present name.[1]
In 1950, Nati Cano joined a mariachi band in the city of Mexicali, Baja California, as an arranger.[1] Cano was younger than any of the other members at the time.[1] The group later relocated to Los Angeles, California.[1] Nati Cano became the leader of the band following the death of its leader due to a car accident.[1] Cano renamed the band, Mariachi los Camperos, meaning Countrymen.[1]
The ensemble was one of four mariachis that collaborated on Linda Ronstadt’s 1987 milestone album, Canciones de Mi Padre.[1] They also appear on Ronstadt’s sequel album, Mas Canciones, which was released in 1992, and toured with the singer nationwide.[1]
Nati Cano stepped down as leader in the 2000s due to declining health.[1]
The ensemble has recorded several albums including:
- Puro Mariachi (Indigo Records, 1961)
- North of the Border (RCA/Carino Records, 1965)
- El Super Mariachi, Los Camperos (Latin International, 1968)
- Valses de Amor (La Fonda Records, 1973)
- Canciones de Siempre (PolyGram Latino, 1993)
- Sounds of Mariachi (Delfin Records, 1996)
- Fiesta Navidad (Delfin Records, 1997)
- Viva el Mariachi (Smithsonian Folkways, 2003)
- ¡Llegaron Los Camperos!, (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2004) and
- Amor, Dolor y Lagrimas: Música Ranchera (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2008).
They were also featured on Smithsonian Folkways' Raíces Latinas: Smithsonian Folkways Latino Roots Collection in 2002.
Their album ¡Llegaron Los Camperos! was nominated for the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album and they shared a 2005 Best Musical Album for Children Grammy for cELLabration!, A tribute to Ella Jenkins.