Los Donneños – Grabaciones Originales, 1950-1954 / Arhoolie CD-9057

Description

CD 9057

Los Donneños became major pioneering stars in the mid 1950s of the then evolving Norteño music. This once regional rural music originated on both sides of the Texas-Mexican border but soon became the popular sound throughout the Spanish speaking Americas.
Ramiro Cavazos met Mario Montes in a cantina in Donna Texas where both men were serenading customers. Mario was a fine accordionist who also sang and the two musicians struck up a friendship. Around the time these recordings were made he still made most of his money playing weddings quinceaneras and weekends in the cantinas.
These lovingly restored historic original recordings were the first by Los Donneños and reflect the repertoire popular in the cantinas from 1950-1954. A true slice of history these tracks make it clear why Norteño is now so popular throughout the Americas.

Ramiro Cavazos – lead voice & guitar or bajo sexto; Mario Montes – 2nd voice and accordion; Rafael Gaspar – string bass.

1.Andando En La Parranda (Ranchera) (On a drinking spree)
2.El Corrido De San Pedro (aka: Corrido De Pepito) (Corrido) (The ballad of Pepito)
3.La Piedra Lisa (Ranchera) (The smooth stone)
4.No Se Porque (Ranchera) (I don’t know why)
5.Amor Imposible (Ranchera) (Impossible love)
6.El Corrido De Dimas De Leon (Corrido) (The ballad of Dimas de Leon)
7.La Cantinera (Ranchera) (The bar maid)
8.Baldomero Del Fierro (Corrido) (The ballad of Baldomero del Fierro)
9.Si Te Miro Con Otro (Ranchera) (If I see you with another)
10.Pancho Garibay (Tragedia) (The tragedy of Pancho Garibay)
11.Me Voy A Donde Nunca (Ranchera) (I am going where never)
12.El Corrido Del Merendero (Corrido) (The ballad of Merendero)
13.La Escalera (Ranchera) (The ladder)
14.El Sube Y Baja (Polka) (The up and down polka)
15.El Corrido De Jose Martinez (Corrido) (The ballad of Jose Martinez)

REVIEW

“Today McAllen Texas is a lonely highway with intersecting roads spread out in numerous directions.  The sky is large in Texas; you can see for miles in any direction.  This tiny city but a 10-minute drive from the Mexican border is one of the more infamous crossing regions.  Has been for decades in fact as proven by this amazing collection of Norteño music recorded over a five-year span in McAllen.  Los Donneños comprised of accordionist Mario Montes and guitarist Ramiro Cavazos made their first illegal crossings here in the ‘40s.  They would later become citizens; in fact to this day Cavazos runs his independent Discos RyN on 23rd St.  This disc however returns us to their roots singing the ever-popular corridos of Mexican folklore.  Indeed this duo was to become one of the biggest groups to happen to regional Mexican music during that time a legacy that persists today (Norteño music is the largest Latin-selling genre in the country).  These 15 songs offer exactly what regional music is about:

nostalgia.  Ask most youngsters why they download Los Tigres del Norte to their iPod and they’ll respond ‘It’s what we heard growing up.’  Nostalgia leaves deep roots and the beautiful harmonies of these two men will make you feel as if you too were there at the border of two cultures clashing a trend that has not wavered one bit.  Then again stand in McAllen for a moment and you’ll have the same experience.  In that flatland every direction is north and south simultaneously.  With this collection you now have the soundtrack for the experience.”

– DB Sing Out!