Underrated Latin Bands Take Center Stage

By Sarah Rafael--Eagle Staff Writer

The Latin music industry has been rising to the top lately and a lot of them are individual artists. Still, the light on bands hasn’t shone quite as brightly and many have been left out of the limelight. There are a lot of regional Mexican bands that have been in the music business for a long time that deserve more attention, like Banda el Recodo, Banda Cuisillos, and Banda MS.

Banda El recodo Members (Photo Used Under the Fair Use Provision of the US Copyright Code)

Banda el Recodo was formed in 1983 by Cruz Lizarraga, a young musician back then; the band has continued under the direction of his family after his passing. Their music includes a range of banda, Mexican traditions, bolero, ranchera, corrido, and cumbia. Their songs include “El Alma de Sinaloa," "La Mejor de Mi Vida," and "Hay Amor." The group has toured widely and has the distinction of being the first Mexican band to perform brass band music in Asia, Europe, Australia, South America, and North America. They have earned nine Latin Grammy awards, 12 “Premios Lo Nuestro”, and five Billboard awards.

Banda Cuisillos show their Native heritage in their dress. (Photo Used Under the Fair Use Provision of the US Copyright Code)

The Cuisillos band is a regional band that formed in 1987 and has been recording albums ever since. Their genre is Regional Mexican music with a pop style; to contribute to this regional flavor they wear characteristic outfits of the natives where they live. They perform in festivals and parades and have received three Grammy award nominations so far.

Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga, or just Banda MS was founded in 2003 in Mazatlan, Sinaloa by two brothers, Sergio and Alberto Lizarraga. Their music style is a mixture of traditional band and modern pop music and the lyrics in their songs are stories about love, heartache, and everyday life. The band's first album, No Podras Mas debuted

Banda MS along with the bands members. (Photo Used Under the Fair Use Provision of the US Copyright Code)

in 2004. They have won several awards including one from Monitor Latino for the song “Solo Con Verte." They also reached number one on Billboard Latin music charts in the United States for their album Que Benedicion. The band has also found success on the road as a touring group.

Regional Mexican Music is growing in popularity and with the rise of Latin artists in general, more people will be hearing big bands like these and witnessing how they rise as well.