Born in California, U.S. however with close familial ties to Sinaloa, Mexico, the young singer spent much of his childhood immersing himself in Mexican-orientated music. At the age of 20 Ortíz made his recording debut on the live album “En Vivo Las Tundras” in 2009. It wasn’t however until 2010 that the singer-songwriter made his breakthrough with his debut studio album “Ni Hoy Ni Mañana”. The major-label release spawned the singles “A La Moda, “El Trokero Lokochón”, and “La Última Sombra” sky-rocketing Ortíz to mainstream success, and later earning the singer a Grammy nomination for Best Norteño Album. The record charted within the Billboard 200 Top 5 and made way for the singer’s subsequent live album “Morir y Existir En Vivo” and sophomore album “Entre Dios y El Diablo” in 2011.
The full-length “El Primer Ministro” followed in 2012, after which Ortíz was awarded the Male Artist of the Year, Norteño Album of the Year, Norteño Aritst of the Year, and Artist of the Year Award at the Mexican Billboard Music Awards. The album “El Primer Ministro” was later nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Music Album, following which Ortíz released his fourth full-length album “Archivos de Mi Vida” in 2014. The same year the singer-songwriter became the judge on the 11th season of the talent competition “Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento”. The album “Hoy Mas Fuerte” appeared in 2015 featuring a pop collaboration with 3Ball MTY and América Sierra entitled “La Noche es Tuya”.
Formed by friends and family members of La Banda el Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga in 1989, the group hail from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico. Fronted by the two vocalists, Alfonso Lizárraga and Pancho Barraza, Banda los Recoditos is made up of more than a dozen musicians, playing a variety of instruments including clarinet, trombone, trumpet, tambour and percussion. Throughout the 1990s, the group released several albums, through an association with Musart, which saw them find moderate success.
Towards the end of the decade, the original vocalists left, finding replacements in Carlos Perez, Luis Angel Franco and Carlos Sarabia. This change in lineup would prove to be fortuitous for the act, developing a more contemporary banda style that quickly found popularity amongst Mexican youths, appealing to the MTV generation with their entertaining music videos.
Banda los Recoditos found new life, becoming increasingly popular, with this being recognised in 2005 after been awarded with the ‘Popular Breakthrough of the Year’ at the annual Premios Oye! awards for their album, “Si No Existieras.” For their next record, the group teamed up with their parent act, La Banda el Recodo, releasing the 2006 album, “Dos Generaciones.” 2007’s “Vengo a Decirte” and 2009’s “Seguimos Enamorados” continued to find an ever growing number of fans yet it was in 2010 that Banda los Recoditos were to find breakthrough international success.
“'¡Ando Bien Pedo! ,“ their 15th release, went on to top the Billboard Latin Albums Chart, with the title track also topping the Latin Singles Chart. Their crossover success made them household names in Mexico, as well as one of the most popular bands in Latin Pop. A steady string of albums continued which helped to maintain their popularity amongst an ever expanding audience, making Banda los Recoditos one of the most successful contemporary banda acts.
Write your review of Gerardo Ortíz here...The Mexican singer/songwriter started his career at a young age, gaining second place in a children’s reality TV talent show back in 2003. These shows tend to have one of two effects on artists, but Gerardo Ortiz was lucky that he is one of the few who go on to make it after their experiences in the manufactured bands. With a Grammy Award nomination under his belt, he is now an incredibly successful artist, with his track Damaso had over 37 million views in YouTube.
He opened the show by running on stage to the sound of his authentic Mexican band playing an extended introduction to the title track from Today Or Tomorrow, whilst he introduces himself and the set that he was about to play. The show was a launch tour for Archives Of My Life, and he played through the album in its entirety, along with great dance moves. His band members play their instruments whilst wandering around the stage, to reflect the laid back and friendly messages in Ortiz’s songs.
All of the instrumentalists were incredibly talented, as well as Ortiz with his incredible voice. He really performed a knock out show, and It’s on that no one should miss if you get the change to go.
For those not in the know, Banda is a kind of traditional Mexican music heavily based around brass instruments and Banda Los Rocoditos are one of the foremost players of it on the world scene, perhaps second only to their parent band Banda los Rocodos. The former was formed by friends and family of the latter in 1989, which says a lot about their popularity as people, as a dozen members formed the original band and it’s only gotten bigger since then, even after the departure of a number of vocalists. No matter which side of the Atlantic Ocean you reside and no matter how familiar one is with traditional Mexican music it’s very, very easy to be impressed by Banda Los Rocoditos. This is a band the size of a small orchestra, with four members in total not playing brass instruments and only one of those playing a percussion instrument, in this case a single snare drum. Yet the music they create and perform is by turns lyrical, evocative, thrilling and deeply moving. They possess the kind of chemistry a band can only gain with twenty five years of experience to their name and it truly must be seen to be believed. This is simultaneously music as heritage, and music as true art, and it comes highly recommended.