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Esteban Velasquez’s newest release “Ladron De Amores” is now available at All That Music & Video for $11.99

More than just the undisputed king of Mexico’s traditional ranchera music, Vicente Fernández — “El Idolo de Mexico” — is one of that country’s most recognizable and influential cultural icons. Since his emergence in the mid-’60s, Fernández‘s popularity has escalated to the point that his status among Mexicans and Mexican-Americans has been likened to that of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley in the United States. His concerts both in Mexico and the U.S. routinely sell out despite a near-total dearth of non-Latino media coverage, and his 100-plus albums have reportedly sold in excess of 50 million copies. Fernández has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has been nominated for Grammy Awards, and has collected a number of honors, including being named Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy in 2002 and garnering membership in the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
With his supersized sombreros, prominent black mustache, and eye-popping costumes, and an orchestra overpopulated with horns and strings players in glittery, matching mariachi outfits, the glitzy Fernández on-stage is an imposing, larger-than-life figure. Matching his visual presentation is an operatic voice that plumbs the depths of the emotional spectrum to connect on an intimate level with his audience, which relates to the singer’s humble beginnings and everyman song lyrics.
Vicente Fernández Gomez was born February 17, 1940, in Huentitan del Alto, Jalisco, Mexico. His youth was marked by struggle. Forced to drop out of school in the fifth grade to help support his family, he held a number of odd jobs. He began to sing and play guitar at age eight and won amateur contests almost from the start. Fernández lore claims that he would go to Guadalajara, where he would stop cars and offer to sing for the drivers for a few pesos. By the early ’60s, he had turned semi-professional, singing with local mariachi bands. Moving to Mexico City, he joined Pepe Mendoza‘s band, Amanecer, and then the band led by José Luis Aguilar.
In Mexico City, Fernández was regularly rejected by record labels, but he was finally noticed by CBS Mexico in 1966. His career did not take off quickly. Although he managed to sell modest quantities of albums and singles, began appearing in Mexican films (he has been in more than 25 to date), and logged such hit singles as “Tu Camino y el Mio” and “Cantina del Barrio,” it wasn’t until 1976, ten years into his recording career, that Fernández truly began his ascent to the top. “Volver, Volver,” a ranchera written by Fernando Z. Maldonado, became a massive hit, its lyrics of forgiveness in a relationship touching a nerve among listeners. The song established Fernández not only in his home country but among other Spanish-speaking populations, including the millions of Mexican-Americans in the United States. Many Mexican music groups covered the song when they performed live.
From that point on, Fernández could seemingly do no wrong. His every single and album was a hit, and the public adored him. He became the first performer to sell out Mexico’s Plaza de Toros bullfighting stadium, singing to over 50,000 fans. In the U.S., he has sold out such large-capacity venues as New York’s Madison Square Garden, where he once shared a bill with his son, Alejandro Fernández, himself a major singing star. Vicente Fernández, Jr., one of the star’s other sons, is also a well-known singer. In 2005, Fernández opened a covered rodeo arena on his ranch outside of Guadalajara. He named it after himself.

Vicente Fernandez – Necesito De Ti:

One of Mexico’s biggest international superstars around the turn of the millennium, Alejandro Fernández first established himself in the early ’90s as a champion of ranchera music before crossing over to the Latin pop mainstream in 1997 with the chart-topping album Me Estoy Enamorando. Born on April 24, 1971, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Fernández is the son of ranchera icon Vincente Fernández, which inspired the media to nickname him El Potrillo (the Little Colt). Beginning with his self-titled debut album in 1992, Fernández followed in the footsteps of his father, performing traditional Mexican music of the Jalisco region such as mariachi. While this phase of Fernández‘s career — including the albums Alejandro Fernandez (1992), Piel de Niña (1993), Grandes Exitos a la Manera de Alejandro Fernandez (1994), Que Seas Muy Feliz (1995), and Muy Dentro de Mi Corazón (1996), all of which were produced by Pedro Ramírez — spawned a steady series of hit singles, his career skyrocketed to new heights of success with the release of Me Estoy Enamorando (1997). Produced by Emilio Estefan, Jr. and Kike Santander — far and away the preeminent Latin pop production team of the era — the album marked the crossover of Fernández into the realm of mainstream pop. Not only did Me Estoy Enamorando itself top Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart; it also spawned four Hot Latin Tracks chart-toppers: “Si Tú Supieras,” “En el Jardín” (a duet with Gloria Estefan), “No Sé Olvidar,” and “Yo Nací Para Amarte.” As if to reassure his fan base that he hadn’t abandoned his roots, Fernández reunited with longtime producer Pedro Ramírez next and returned to ranchera music on Mi Verdad (1999) before collaborating once again with Estefan and Santander on another pop-oriented chart-topper, Entre Tus Brazos (2000). In subsequent years, Fernández continued to alternate between traditional albums of ranchera music (Orígenes, 2001; Niña, Amada Mía, 2003) and those oriented toward contemporary Latin pop (A Corazón Abierto, 2004; Viento a Favor, 2007). In addition, he began regularly releasing live in-concert albums (Un Canto de México, 2002; En Vivo: Juntos por Ultima Vez, 2003; México-Madrid: En Directo y Sin Escalas, 2005) and also released his first greatest-hits collection, 15 Años de Éxitos (2008).

With his unmistakable voice and charisma, PeeWee has become America’s “Latin Sweetheart” and at his young age has assembled quite an impressive list of achievements and successes.

PeeWee initially began his career as a member of the Kumbia Kings, and then later as a member of the Kumbia All Starz. PeeWee achieved great popularity and stardom as the lead vocalist of various chart-topping hits such as “Sabes A Chocolate,” “Na Na Na” (Mi Dulce Niña), “Speedy Gonzalez,” and “Chiquilla.”

After a successful run with the groups, PeeWee made his solo musical debut during the network television broadcast of Premios Juventud 2008, where he performed his hit single “Life is a Dance Floor”. The audience response reached a fevered pitch, and the single went on to become a summer anthem, achieving multi-format, radio chart success throughout the United States.

In late 2008, PeeWee participated in the popular reality television program “Show de los Sueños: Sangre de Mi Sangre” and quickly won over the hearts of millions of viewers throughout the United States, Mexico and Latin America. PeeWee won the program’s talent contest, and given his popularity amongst viewers, was invited to participate for the show’s second season. During the second season, PeeWee competed against several major artists including Gloria Trevi, Kalimba and Edith Marquez and following his performance during the season finale, he once again notched first place honors.

PeeWee’s debut release, “YO SOY” was recorded in the U.S. and Mexico and was produced by some of the industry’s top Latin producers including Luny Tunes and Carlos Lara of RBD fame.

“Yo Soy” available now!

It is no exaggeration to say that Jenni Rivera is one of the most polarizing figures in regional Mexican music. Her hardcore fans absolutely adore her, while her detractors aren’t just mildly critical of her gutsy, often in-your-face approach to banda — they are vehemently critical. Is there a middle ground? Absolutely. Discussions of Rivera‘s work aren’t necessarily confined to either total praise or total condemnation; there is room for nuance. And in fact, Rivera‘s recordings themselves have plenty of nuance; nuance abounds on Jenni, which marks the first time Rivera did all the producing on one of her albums. Certainly, Jenni has its share of anger; Rivera has long been known for embracing irreverent, in-your-face lyrics, and that hasn’t changed. But Rivera has hardly been one-dimensional. So even though Jenni demonstrates that the Los Angeles resident can be inflammatory at times, this 44-minute CD has a range of other qualities as well. Among them: vulnerability, warmth, and compassion. Emotionally, there has been a lot of complexity in Rivera‘s work — and that is another thing that hasn’t changed. Nonetheless, Jenni is unlikely to win over the people who have been highly critical of Rivera in the past; folks who never acknowledged the nuance and complexity of Se Las Voy a Dar a Otro, Parrandera, Rebelde y Atrevida, or Mi Vida Loca aren’t going to suddenly change their minds about Rivera after hearing this 2008 release. But the disc will easily appeal to those who have been able to comprehend and appreciate her artistry, and while Jenni isn’t among Rivera‘s essential releases, it is still an engaging and memorable addition to her catalog.

“Jenni (Super Deluxe Ed.)” available now!

Astonishingly, this is ranchera superstar Vicente Fernández‘s 81st album, following on the success of 2008′s Grammy-winning Para Siempre. The title track of Necesito de Ti , composed by Grammy nominee Manuel Toscano, is of particular interest in that Fernández chose to release it on May 5, 2009, the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, a significant event in Mexican history. As befits that gesture, the still vocally virile Fernández remains the most traditional of ranchera traditionalists even while maintaining his commercial viability well into the new century.

“Necesito De Ti” available at All That Music now!

Aventura didn’t become the kings of bachata by deserting their large and devoted fan base to cater to the mainstream, and it’s no different on The Last — despite the fact that the album includes features for a parade of crossover suspects: Wyclef Jean and Ludacris on one track, plus Akon and Wisin y Yandel on another. No, the lead track on The Last — the number one Latin hit “Por un Segundo” — is straight bachata, rhythmic and sweet, and there happen to be plenty of tender ballads to follow it. Not only that, but the crossover features are held to the last half of the album, where Wyclef Jean produces his own surprisingly sugary “Spanish Fly,” and Akon and Wisin y Yandel appear on the Auto-Tuned reggaeton track “All Up 2 You.” As usual, the band is anchored by Santos brothers Lenny and Max, along with longtime collaborator Eric “Bori” Rivera. Consolidating the quartet’s power, The Last became Aventura‘s biggest album hit yet, reaching number five on the charts.

Aventura’s video for “Por Un Segundo”.

“The Last” available at All That Music & Video now!

Born December 23 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Stefani Montiel (Stefani Barela Sullivan) arrived with a rich cultural lineage extending to Mexico, Spain, Germany and Italy. Her Mexican-American roots, nevertheless, are her source of pride and the solid foundation for her life and her music.

While growing up, Stefani would watch and listen to Emilio Barela, her grandfather, as he played his accordion along classic rancheras. Her father, Dwight Sullivan also provided musical nourishment to the future Tejano superstar while performing with his band, Los Chavos, in New Mexico. At age three, in exchange for a bowl of cherries and a soda pop, Stefani made her singing debut to the amazement of everyone present, showing great poise and a naturally sweet and smooth voice.

The music world gave Stefani a warm welcome upon the release of her first single at age five. Side A featured “Rancho Grande” while side B broke into the airwaves with “Que Grande El Amor de Dios.” By age nine, Stefani recorded her first album “ANGEL BABY.” Besides the classic “Angel Baby” the album included three major hits “Las Gaviotas,” “Flor De Las Flores,” and “Blue Bayou.” Her second Long Play album was released when she turned fifteen years old, simply title “Listen to My Music” including a mixture of Country, Pop, and classic rancheras.

Searching for a future in the music business, Stefani moved to San Antonio, Texas in hopes of realizing greater fame. Her success was immediate with two major hits- “Primer Beso” and “Tú y Nadie Más.” She was soon signed to a long term contract with Sony Discos and released “TE VOY A ENAMORAR” which established her as a major force in the Tejano music industry. Other hits off this album were “Celos” and “Soy Feliz” which received national airplay, as well as the title track and accompanying video “Te Voy a Enamorar” featuring actor MARIO LOPEZ.

The first visit to Mexico, for Stefani, was a complete success due in part to her incredible charisma, impressive vocal power, and stunning beauty. She was named the Queen of the Monterrey Fair after giving a rousing performance before more than 100,000 fans.

The second album, “TODO MI AMOR” proved that Stefani was not a “one-hit wonder” and expanded her fan-base by including more of a “Pop” feel to some of the songs. Hits like “Sabado en la Noche”, “Angel en el Cielo”, and “Contigo” showcased her powerful range and smooth vocals. It became obvious to the public and industry insiders that they were witnessing the work of a major star with the ability to crossover into any type of music. Radio airplay increased to a frenzied level featuring hits from the previous album as well as “TODO MI AMOR.”

Her next release “PORQUE SOY MUJER” (Because I am a Woman) delivered still more hits including the title track, which established an important link of communication between the Tejano songbird and her loyal female fans. Songs that are now standards include “Porque Soy Mujer,” the gypsy-influenced “Baila Conmigo,” and the driving beat of “Ven Conmigo.”

Her latest album ” DULCE SENSACION” (Sweet Sensation) features one of the first songs she ever sang, “Angel Baby” with a Spanglish and a Spanish version featuring a cumbia beat. “DULCE SENSACION” is the definitive release by Stefani Montiel. Loaded with radio-friendly hits, the album hints at Regional Mexican, Pop, and Tropical while still strongly rooted in the Tejano sound. The first single “Ay Papi” written by Stefani, included a Tejano, hip-hop, and “Mambolicious” tropical version which all drew immediate success and airplay throughout the country as well as Los Angeles, Miami, and Puerto Rico. Also included on this album are “Daria Todo,” “La Puerta,” and the fully orchestrated, “Hermoso Amor.” The painstaking detail of the arrangements, the lyrics, the vocal delivery and the production quality speak volumes of Stefani Montiel’s talent and earned her a nomination for “BEST TEJANO PERFORMANCE” at the first ever Latin Grammys in 2000.

Stefani Montiel has come a long way from that three year old little girl in New Mexico, to a sensational tejano superstar admired by thousands. A strong voice empowering today’s youth to reach for the stars and go for the glory, Stefani strives to give her all to her fans. Her optimistic outlook on life and positive attitude will help her continue on the road to success where she will reign as the “dulce sensacion” in the hearts of her fans.

Listen to “Sigo Enamorada” off “Divina”.

Stefani Montiel’s new album “Divina” available at All That Music & Video now!

Los Temerarios is a Mexican romantic music group started in 1978 with brothers Adolfo Angel and Gustavo Angel, together with cousin Fernando Angel. Their first years, they were known as Conjunto La Brisa.

Los Temerarios have recorded 18 albums and been honored with multiple awards and award nominations. In 1991, they earned 5 Billboard awards nominations on the Latin categories.

They’ve performed in multiple world famous sites, such as Radio City Music Hall (where they became the first Mexican music act to lead a concert), Sports Arena, where they joined Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson as the only musical acts to fill the arena (earning an award for that feat), and Auditorio Nacional of Mexico City, where they were the first Mexican group ever to perform.

They also acted at the Festival De Vina Del Mar event in Chile in 1991, earning the prestigious Gaviota De Plata award.