Linda Ronstadt & Mariachi Los Camperos

Friday, June 26th at 8:00PM
Legends Theater

Tickets start at $45.00 On sale now.

 

Linda Ronstadt has established one of the most impressive careers in the history of contemporary music. Arguably the most versatile vocalist of the modern era, she has broadened the latitudes of the pop singer, expanding the vocalist’s canvas to include country, rock and roll, big band, jazz, opera, Broadway standards, Mexican and Afro-Cuban influences, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of the ultimate song. With worldwide album sales of over 50 million, at least 31 gold and platinum records, and 11 Grammy Awards to her credit, Linda is the consummate American artist.

After their successful 2008 tour devoted to Mexican folk music, versatile vocal legend Linda Ronstadt will join with the acclaimed Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano to present an exciting live performance that captures the energy and excellence of Mexican Mariachi. Mariachi Los Camperos and Linda Ronstadt will re-visit their successful collaboration, Canciones de mi Padre.

While Linda was a student at the University of Arizona, she met guitarist Bob Kimmel. The duo moved to Los Angeles, where they were joined by guitarist/songwriter Kenny Edwards. Calling themselves the Stone Poneys, the group became a leading attraction on California's folk circuit, recording their self-titled first album The Stone Poneys in 1967. The band's second album, Evergreen, Vol. 2, featured the Top 20 hit "Different Drum," which was written by Michael Nesmith. After recording one more album with the group, Linda left for a solo career at the end of 1968.

Linda’s first two solo albums - Hand Sow, Home Grown (1969) and Silk Purse (1970) - accentuated her country roots, and helped to create the burgeoning California country-rock movement.

Released in 1971, her self-titled third album Linda Ronstadt was a pivotal record in her career. Featuring a group of session musicians that would later become the Eagles, the album was a softer, more laidback variation of the country-rock she had been recording. With the inclusion of material from singer/songwriters like Jackson Browne, Neil Young and Eric Andersen, Linda became one of the premier interpreters of the new folk-rock idiom .

Don't Cry Now, released in 1973, followed the same formula to greater success, yet it was 1974's Heart Like a Wheel that perfected the sound, making Linda Ronstadt a star. Featuring the hit covers "You're No Good," "When Will I Be Loved" and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," Heart Like a Wheel reached number one and sold over two million copies. Released in the fall of 1975, Prisoner in Disguise followed the same pattern as Heart Like a Wheel and was nearly as successful. Hasten Down the Wind, released in 1976, charted higher than Prisoner in Disguise.

Simple Dreams (1977) expanded the formula by adding a more rock-oriented supporting band, which breathed life into the Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice" and Warren Zevon's "Poor Pitiful Me." The record became the singer's biggest hit, staying on the top of the charts for five weeks and selling over three million copies. 
With Living in the U.S.A. (1978) Linda began experimenting with new wave, recording Elvis Costello's "Alison"; the album was another number one hit. She made a full-fledged new wave record with 1980's Mad Love, recording three Costello songs and adopting a synth-laden sound. While the album was a commercial success, Linda was growing restless with rock music. After the release of 1982's Get Closer, she sensed it was time to try something new.

After meeting New York theatre legend Joe Papp, she was cast in his new Broadway staging of the classic Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, Pirates of Penzance, with Kevin Kline and Rex Smith. After the show’s theatrical run, Linda starred in the movie version as well. She then embarked on her most ambitious project - a collaboration with Nelson Riddle, who arranged and conducted her 1983 collection of pop standards, What's New. Against all expectations, it was a considerable hit, reaching number three on the charts and selling over two million copies. Linda’s next two albums -- Lush Life (1984) and For Sentimental Reasons (1986) -- were also albums of pre-rock standards recorded with Riddle.

At the end of 1986, Linda returned to contemporary pop, recording "Somewhere Out There," the theme to the animated An American Tail, with James Ingram; the single became a number two hit. She also returned to her country roots in 1987, recording the first Trio album with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. That same year, Ronstadt recorded Canciones de mi Padre, a set of traditional Mexican songs that became a surprise hit.

Two years later, she recorded Cry Like a Rainstorm - Howl Like the Wind -- her first contemporary pop album since 1982's Get Closer. Featuring four duets with Aaron Neville, including the number two hit "Don't Know Much," the album sold over two million copies.

Linda returned to traditional Mexican material with Mas Canciones (1991) and later recorded a Cuban influenced album, Frenesi (1992). In 1994's Winter Light, and 1996’s Feels Like Home, she returned to singing the work of her favorite contemporary songwriters. Fulfilling a long-standing wish, she recorded a children’s lullaby album, Dedicated to the One I Love.

The long-awaited reunion record Trio II with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris arrived in 1998 as well as We Ran. Emmylou Harris and Linda teamed up again in 1999 and released the fabulous Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions. Two years later in 2002, Linda delivered the holiday collection A Merry Little Christmas. Her 2004 release, Hummin’ to Myself on Verve Records marked her first foray into jazz and received universally high acclaim.

Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano has existed for nearly 44 years and is noted for demanding musical arrangements that highlight the individual skills and voices of the players. The ensemble employs the finest musicians from Mexico and the United States and has performed for audiences throughout the United States and Canada.

Los Camperos is led by Natividad "Nati" Cano. A traditionalist and a visionary, Cano has both mirrored and shaped the history of mariachi music. He was born in 1933 into a family of mariachi musicians in Jalisco, Mexico, one of the many west Mexican communities that gave life to the mariachi tradition. His career took him first to nearby Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, and then further away to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, he and Los Camperos emerged as a major driving force of the mariachi music tradition in the United States.

In December 2006, Cano's contributions to the American music landscape were recognized when he became one of the first artists nationwide to win a USA Fellowship from United States Artists. In its inaugural year, United States Artists awarded 50 USA Fellowships to a total of 54 artists. Mr. Cano was one of only five musicians to be named a USA Fellow in the inaugural year.

Mariachi Los Camperos was one of four mariachis that collaborated on Linda Ronstadt's album, Canciones de Mi Padre (Songs of my Father). In 1988-89, the group worked on the promotion of the album, including national television appearances on programs including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the Grammy Awards Show. They also appear on Linda Ronstadt's Mas Canciones (More Songs).  

The ensemble has recorded nine 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) and Fiesta Navidad (Delfin Records, 1997); Viva el Mariachi (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2003); Llegaron Los Camperos, (Smithsonian Folkways, 2005.) Los Camperos shared a 2005 Best Musical Album for Children Grammy for cELLabration!, A tribute to Ella Jenkins. In 2006, the album Llegaron Los Camperos was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album. In 2008, the group released their third CD with Smithsonian Folkways, entitled Amor, Dolor y Lágrimas.