Trivia

Mariachi trajes differ from the traditional charro clothing in two major ways: no gun and no sash. The presence of these indicates the wearer can rope, ride and shoot.

The first all-female mariachi was founded by Carlota Noriega in the mid-1940s in Mexico.

Indian Justo Rodríquez Nixen invented the vihuela using an armadillo shell.

Santana’s father wanted him to be a mariachi violinist.

Mexican Hat Dance, from Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco, has become the national dance of Mexico.

Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán was founded by Gaspar Vargas in 1898.

The galas, groups of decorative buttons running down the outside seams of a mariachi's pants, are threaded together with a cord tied at each end. If one goes, they all go!

The first mariachi mass was celebrated by a Canadian priest, Father Juan Marco Leclerc, and has been celebrated in Cuernavaca since 1966.

The first guitarrons had animal gut for strings.

In 1969, Los Camperos de Nati Cano opened La Fonda restaurant in Los Angeles, the world's first venue designed to showcase a mariachi.

In the '40s and '50s, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán appeared in more than 200 motion pictures.

Junko Seki, from Japan, has toured the U.S. with her mariachi performance.

Tatiana Bolanos, 9, has become the youngest ranchera singer to sign with Sony International.

The huge-brimmed sombrero of Mariachi and the Charro is made from several materials in a variety of price ranges. The best hats are made from wool, or the most expensive rabbit hair felt.

Los Caballeros is the first Croation mariachi band that performs traditional Mexican music.