Mexican
Band
Born in the neighbourhood of the ‘Plaza de Garibaldi’ – famous worldwide
as the home of the Mariachis in the heart of Mexico City, Pablo grew up
living and breathing the wonderful and exciting music of the Mariachis
known as ‘Ranchera’ music.
Pablo’s love for this, and all types of music was clear from a very early
age and as a little boy he was christened ‘El Gorrioncito’ – ‘little sparrow’
by friends and family, because of his habit of whistling and singing to
himself wherever he went.
At the age of 8, Pablo took his first real steps into music, winning first prize for singing in a local festival
for children of Ranchera music.
By 12 he managed to buy himself his first guitar and started to make his living from music singing and
playing the guitar. As a teenager he went on to play with a band, and began to study music in earnest,
winning a scholarship to study at the Workers Syndicate of Music in Mexico City, and later in the National
School of Music where he gained a bachelors degree in music and singing.
After completing his studies Pablo
began to travel throughout Mexico
working as a musician.
He has worked in the entire major
tourist locations, including, Cancun,
Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Baja
California, Los Cabos San Lucas,
Ixtapa and many more.
He has had the honour of performing
with many famous Mexican
musicians, singing not only Ranchera
music, but also other types of
Mexican music such as Noreteña,
Boleros, and what is currently very
popular music in Mexico – ‘Musica de
Banda’.
He also appeared regularly on radio
and television performing both solo
and with his band.
Four years ago Pablo arrived in Europe and continued to travel working as a musician through various
cities in France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and Holland, before finally arriving in the UK two
years ago, proudly bringing the passion and vitality of Mexican music with him in his voice.
MARIACHI MUSIC: A PHENOMENOM WITH UNCERTAIN ORIGINS
Since their first appearance in Mexico City there has been much dispute as to the origin of Mariachi
music. Some people believe that this type of music began in the ancient imperial city of Tenochtitlan
when the musicians used to sing in ritual ceremonies and libations. Others believe that it developed much
later in the town of Jalisco at the end of the last century. Those who subscribe to this theory also believe
that the name ‘mariachi’ was given by the French as a distortion of the word ‘marriage’. The French had
by the end of the 19th century settled in large numbers in Jalisco and, it is believed, given this name to
the musicians who performed at religious festivals such as weddings, baptisms and funerals.
A ‘PLAZA’ DESTINED FOR MUSIC
In its beginnings, (long before the conquest) in the area where the plaza is now, was a large market of
the Aztec village, Texcatzoncatl. Over the years the market disappeared and the area where it had been
was christened by the villagers the Plaza de Santa Cecilia –after the patron saint of music. Without
realising it, they were predicting the future destiny of the plaza.
In 1920 the plaza had its first contact with music when a music promoter named Cirilo Marmolejo decided
to bring the first mariachi group to Mexico City. It is said that they were so successful that the Mayor of
the city wanted to reward them by giving them the chance to choose anywhere in the city where they
would like to practice their art, and without thinking they chose the Plaza de Santa Cecilia.
A year later, the Plaza was renamed, Plaza Garibaldi. By that time Mexico had celebrated its first
centenary of independence from the Spanish and decided to rename the plaza in honour of Lieutenant
Garibaldi. He was an emblematic character from the revolution who fought alongside the famous
revolutionary Francisco Madero, and grandson of the Italian Giuseppe Garibaldi who went to Mexico to
support the revolution.
Nowadays the plaza has become the home of mariachi music where you can find sculptures of the most
famous Mexican artists and singers through the ages who have worked with mariachis. The most
treasured statue in the plaza is of course that of Cirilo Marmolejo, the father of this great musical
phenomenon.
PERFORMANCES
IN MARCH 2008 PABLO WON FIRST PLACE IN
THE LATIN MUSIC COMPETITION IN LONDON
ORGANISED BY SPECTROM RADIO LATINISIMO 558
AM THE FIRST HISPANIC PROGRAM IN UK.
IN APRIL 2008 PABLO WAS INVITED BY ITV1 TO
PERFORM IN THE CELEBRITY COUPLES SHOW IN A
BRAND NEW SERIES OF All Star Mr & Mrs
Since arriving in the Europe Pablo has entertained
many people at numerous venues working both solo
and with his band Mariachi El Mexicano.
They have been invited to play at different cultural events and festivals both in the UK and the rest of
Europe. These include the Festival del Pueblo – the largest Latin American festival in Europe; the Latin
American Festival of Short Films 2006 and the Festival of Latin American Music and Dance 2006 in The
Mall. In addition they have participated in a wide variety of cultural events in London. Some of the
venues include Somerset House, the Museum of London, the Royal Festival Hall in the South Bank,
Hampton Court Palace and at the Clearwell Castel (Bristol). They have also performed at the celebration
of National Independence at the Mexican Embassy in London and for organisations such as Mexico Lindo
and Mexico Juvenil.
Finally Pablo and his band have also provided entertainment for numerous people at all type of private
functions, both on a small and large scale at weddings, serenades, office parties, golf clubs, hen and stag
parties, civil partnership ceremonies
etc.
For Further information contact
Telephone Fax: 01865 327772 Mobile 07768 60 60 88
www.steppin-out.co.uk [email protected]