Norteno Accordion and Norteno Music: A Comprehensive guide

Norteno accordion music, also known as (la music nortena), is dance-centered group music that originated in Mexico, mainly performed using an accordion and an instrument called bajo sexto.

 

The genre has grown into the nickname conjunto, a name that comes from the Mexican dubbing of the group or band that performs norteno music, after taking over the music scene in Texas.

 

A few minor adjustments slightly separate Norteno from Tejano, another popular form of music that originated in Mexico.

 

While the latter is more evolved, the former is known for sticking to its traditional roots and keeping the rural vibrations alive throughout the years.

 

Pulsating beats of norteno music are not as obvious as similar genres after it.

 

Norteno has withstood the test of time by refusing to drift away from its roots.

 

The mood is always festive, the lyrics and vocals are strong, and both are relevant to any listener.

 

Norteno music has shadowed almost a century by serving as the motivational factor of the lower middle class, and making the workers in society feel represented through the stories in the lyrics.

 

What makes norteno music unique?

 

What makes the norteno unique and one-of-a-kind is its ability to appear exclusively dance-driven and cheerful while at the same time raising important social and political issues and staying relevant in a significant way.

 

The foundational structure of the music has, at the same time, solidified its originality, and evolved a long way since its beginning. Present-day norteno songs have similarities to their ancestry in the 1800s.

 

You can still hear European influences from several traditional dances like polkas, waltzes, redovas, mazurkas, and schottisches. German and Czech immigrants residing in Texas at the early stages of the music had a significant impact on the formation of the general style of the music.

 

The ancestors’ native influence may be why norteno songs received worldwide popularity despite having a distinct sound.

 

Mexico became the melting pot where European traditions came face to face and merged with homegrown sounds like huapango and Cancion ranchera. Legend has it that norteno music began with just an accordion and struggled to find an accompanying piece during its inception and development.

 

In 1930, when accordion player Narciso Martinez observed his mate, bajo sexto player Santiago Almeida, playing all the accordion songs effortlessly when he realized an addition of the bajo sexto could be a permanent fixture in norteno music.

 

When he saw his partner play the bass and carry it all by himself, he realized that gave him the space he needed to focus on the treble and other parts of the music.

 

Narciso and Santiago made a great team together.

 

Other parts of norteno music that are separate from the genre today were introduced shortly after the addition of the bajo sexto.

 

At first, String basses and trap drums got criticized with lukewarm appreciation because they were too bulky to record with clarity in the studio.

 

Regardless of the beauty of their sound when mixed with the accordion and bajo sexto, these instruments outweighed the difficulty to record, as they became standard instruments of norteno music.

 

Location and foundation

 

The music was strong enough to stand on its own after fusing vocals and lyrics into the exclusively instrumental, dance-oriented style.

 

The borders around Texas proved to be the perfect place for the growth of such a vibrant new musical movement as they were home to urbanites that needed a sound to call their own.

 

Large concert halls, sound engineering, and amplification followed the growing demand for norteno music.

 

Although the main attraction of norteno music is focusing on storytelling through songs, the genre has made room for several other styles.

 

The storytelling song style is called corrido. The norteno sound became the official number one form of music for lower-middle-class immigrants by 1960.

 

Then two decades later, in the 1980s, the newly introduced synthesizers allowed norteno music to move into the pop side of world music and be accessible to non-Mexican listeners.

 

Countless groups carried the legacy of norteno music, and they took it all across the globe for Latino people and even reached fans in Asia and Europe.

 

Some History:

 

The invention of the accordion dates back to 1822 when Friedrich Buschmann designed the first accordion.

 

Buschmann was previously known for the harmonica, which he built before anyone.

 

Nonetheless, the German native did not name the instrument he created. It was not until five years later that mass production began on a significant scale.

 

Cyrill Damian kick-started the fabrication and assigned a name to the instrument pronounced acordeón in Spanish.

 

You can find several literature pieces, that indicates that the instrument took off at the beginning of the 1900s.

 

German singers performed European tunes, as the accordion complimented the fiddle and drum set. The accordion made its mark on the musical culture of Europe.

 

The first Pioneers:

 

Bruno Villareal and Jose Rodriguez

Bruno Villareal and Jose Rodriguez are two pioneers that first garnered fame and acclaim for accordion music. The duo took the South Texas music scene by storm after arriving from San Benito.

 

Bruno Villareal was partially blind and went by the stage name “El Azote del Valle” (the Whip of the Valley).

 

The iconic player graced street corners all over Texas and became notorious in 1930 after playing Norteno music using a piano accordion and tin cups. His song “ La Cascada” is still popular today despite being recorded in 1935.“

 

Unlike Bruno, Rodriguez preferred to occupy the dancing scene in town. He did not roam the streets of the city playing, but rather worked events and ceremonies that included dancing.

 

The musician was reputed to be paranoid of other artists copying his music, so he often played cautiously by choosing appropriate venues. His song, “La Lamba” has made it to the history books for its catchy vibe.

 

Jesus Casiano and Lolo Cavazos

 

Jesus Casiano made a name for himself after signing a recording contract with Rio Records in 1950.

 

The 1950s marked a pivot time for accordion music as the crowd got used to the style, thanks to Villareal and Rodriguez.

 

Casiano resided in San Antonio and he managed to break into the mainstream with the nickname “El Gallito” (the Little Rooster).

 

Lolo Cavazos firmly believes that norteno music has its roots in the Rio Grande Valley, where he grew up. He settled in Texas after teaching himself the instrument as a young man. Like Casiano, he signed a record deal in 1950 with a label dubbed Ideal Records.

 

Santiago Jimenez Sr.

 

Santiago Jimenez Sr. is known as the most celebrated accordionist in San Antonio. He garnered remarkable influence that resonates today.

The musician born in 1913 passed away in 1984 after a marvelous career.

 

He picked up the nickname “El Flaco” which means “the thin one”.

Although he taught himself most of what he knows, he had help from his father, Patricio Jimenez, who was also a musician.

 

After purchasing an accordion from a thrift store in 1935 he began his career on the radio. Record shop owners and talent scouts interviewed him until one of them hired him for less than $10 per record.

 

Although Santiago did not get to keep the rights to his records, he garnered notoriety and fame through the daily radio broadcasts.

Santiago went on to record classics with smaller labels like Globe records and Imperial Records when the large corporations stopped working on local music because of war.

 

Accordion music ran in the family as the children also became stars, following in their footsteps. His son, Leonardo, picked up the nickname “Flaco” and garnered fame quickly.

 

The legend’s other son Santiago Jr, also played according to his father’s style and tradition, just like his brothers.

 

All the children also play their father’s hit songs on stage as covers. Santiago’s legacy will live on through his family.

 

Narciso Martinez

 

Narciso Martinez was an icon during the two decades stretching from 1930 to 1950. The musician grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, the incubating city of Norteno music. He is now known as the father of Norteno music. He can easily be regarded as the best accordion player of genre accordion music in his era.

 

Narciso developed a new style of playing Norteno music that stresses an accordion’s focus on treble while leaving the lower end of the tune for other band members who play bajo and sexto.

 

The musician played a significant role in establishing the official Norteno style which is an accordion led by two voices. He worked with Ideal records in the 1940s when he reached his peak as a performer.

 

Even his band members Laura and Carmen were both popular in their rights for records they put out separately and with the group. After his prime was behind him in 1960, he participated in dance parties and events as a guest performer while maintaining a job as a zoo keeper.

Modernization of Norteno muisc

 

Although the genre’s inception before 1950 shaped the style in a major way, the music has evolved and changed dramatically since then. It came a long way from Narciso Martineze’s method.

 

Most notably, present-day Norteno bands have abandoned the toloche and snare for bass guitars and complete drum sets. Los Tigres del Norte, Duelo and Intocable reign in place of former leaders.

 

The subject matter has also transformed, as the traditional style of socially significant topics turned into bolder and more controversial topics like lesbian romance and teen melodrama.

 

Regardless many artists still make socially relevant songs with deep messages.

 

Types of Norteno music in different regions

 

Northeastern Norteno: 

 

Northeastern Norteno music is the most basic style of norteno, which is true to the roots and early traditions. As the name suggests, it is received well in northeastern and central regions of Mexico. It has also made its way into sections of the United States with a significant size of Mexican residents.

 

Pacific Norteno: 

 

Pacific Norteno music deviated from Northeastern Norteno by adopting styles of banda music. Many musicians of this style have abandoned the button accordion for a piano version. As the name suggests, this style is popular in Mexican regions close to the Pacific Ocean and subsequent United States regions with Mexican citizens from the border.

 

Norteno-Sax: 

 

Norteno-Sax has garnered its place in the Norteno music industry by integrating a saxophone into the fundamental instruments. The style does not just add the saxophone but focuses on making it the lead.

 

Aside from the sax spotlight, it follows the roots of northeastern traditions of playing norteno music. But lately, many groups are picking up elements of grupero music by pulling out synthesizer keyboards for love songs and slow jams.

 

The style reigns popular in landlocked parts of Mexico and cities of the United States with Mexicans from those sections.

 

Norteno-Banda: 

 

Nortena-Banda music draws heavily from bass-driven banda music. The style utilizes a sousaphone for the lower sections of songs and is a household name in the Pacific and Central Mexico. Mexicans who flocked to the United States from those regions have made it popular in the west.

 

Norteno musical traits

 

You can not call a style norteno unless it uses button accordion and bajo sexto. Norteno musicians do not use piano accordions, setting themselves apart from the crowd.

 

One of the traits that help you pick norteno from a sea of accordion music is fast rhythm. Hence, norteno is usually up-tempo and occasionally middle tempo, but never slow.

 

The country feels to the sound separates the style from urban music.

 

Depending on the artists, norteno music can be raw and ethnic-sounding or edgy and new.

 

A shouting sound at intersections between sections of songs like verses and bridges or bridges and hooks make norteno music particularly cultural. The signature sound is called Grito Mexicano. The sound may come from musicians or the crowd.

 

Comparisons between songs by Ramon Ayala and those by Oro Norteno show the contrast and varying style amongst subsets of norteno music.

Borrowing and imitating happens amongst relatively close genres in music. The interconnectedness is evident in the similarity between norteno, banda, and duranguense songs.

 

Although banda utilizes brass instruments exclusively in the place of accordions that norteno musicians use, the rhythm and style of the two genres are codependent in several ways. The two genres both have thumping beats, and their choice of subject matter for lyrics is identical.

 

Furthermore, most bands go by Mexican regions when they pick a stage name, and this habit is also similar in both genres. The two styles are grouped under Mexican regional music.

 

Norteno sound features

 

Norteno music does not fit in a small box. It comes with touches of several other styles of music, depending on the geographical location of the musicians.

 

Norteno has absorbed American music culture via musicians located in Texas. Songs from the area have significant elements borrowed or mixed in from the United States native artists.

 

On the other hand, Norteno music from Tijuana is noticeably similar to Caribbean music.

 

Durango, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, and Chiapas are regions that have integrated their unique instruments and style into popular norteno music for their respective locals. Saxophone and marimbas are often incorporated with accordions, giving norteno music extra flavor.

 

How to play norteno music

 

You can DIY(do it yourself) the whole thing and teach yourself how to play norteno music. You will not be alone in your journey because there is countless material and music to learn from all over the internet. The following are terms to be familiar with when gearing up to play the accordion and make norteno music.

 

Bellows release

 

The button on the left side allows air to enter and exit the bellows without passing through a reed.

 

Bisonoric

 

Bisonoric means allowing for two different notes on press and draw.

 

Diatonic

 

Diatonic indicates the accordion’s range to switch scales. It allows performers to play on a scale that differs from generic scales like the chromatic scale. You can play minor and major scale music using the diatonic instrument. The bipolar nature is vital to norteno music as the genre covers many styles in several scales.

 

Draw

 

Draw points to the action of pulling the sides of the bellows apart and drawing air in via the reeds. Because the valves are open, the air travels in and out effortlessly.

 

Fingering system

 

The fingering system refers to the arrangement of the buttons on an accordion. It also includes the proportional pairing of notes with buttons.

 

Helper accidentals

 

Helper accidentals are buttons that represent keys that are outside the diatonic system.

 

Home key

 

The Major keys of the accordion are to be played as draw notes or press notes. The home row is also in that key.

 

Home note

 

The home note is the first (lowest-pitched) appearance of the tonic note of the scale that holds the home row. The home note is where all the bass is centered.

 

Home row

 

Accordions have several rows and the Main row. The Main row is detrimental to the diatonic scale and is called the home row. The home row is the C row or A row, depending on major and minor scales.

 

I row

 

The I row is read ‘One row’, and it is the home row of the accordion.

 

International System

 

The International system is a standard fingering system utilized by norteno accordion players. The system is the same system harmonica players use but three times as wide. You must familiarize yourself with this system to make your learning easier.

 

Press

 

Press signifies the action of pressing the bellows together to force air out through the reeds, whose valves are open.

 

Relative chord

 

A chords name concerning its position in a scale instead of the original name is called a relative chord.

 

Relative note

 

A relative note represents a note according to its position in the home key or a given scale.

 

Unisonic

 

Unisonic is when the same sound is generated from the press and ‘draw’ sides by two different buttons.

 

 

Tips to help you play like a pro

 

  • In norteno music, the accordion gives the best result when handled with care. Your accordion is not one for rough play. The violin and brass should come to mind when comparing your accordion to other instruments concerning playing style.
  • Arpeggiated chords are chords that are played repetitively in a slow manner, contrasting bolder and rougher play. These chords are ideal when making norteno music.
  • Double steps, shifting, and switching between keys are good ideas as long as they are done gently without blurring.
  • Accordions have the capability of overshadowing a singer’s vocals along with other instruments in the band. Thus, the player must be very cautious while playing a norteno accordion. Swelling and going down must happen with precise timing, in tune with the singer and the rest of the players.
  • Accordions are not virtuoso instruments. They are primarily played for color. So they can not be allowed to drown the whole show with loud and off-beat playing. As an accordionist, you must pay close attention to the song’s structure and play softly throughout the performance.
  • The trick to better playing and songwriting with accordions is to keep it fresh as you count the beat. Do not use the same melody for more than one row of keys. You may create a pattern with the new melody for each row and loop your music accordingly. An accordionist has endless options for the arrangement using the diatonic scale. As long as you have a tune in mind, you can build your notes and chords around it by trying out new combinations for every row.
  • The most valuable skill an accordionist can develop is Smooth fingering. It makes up for 50 % of the relevancy for players. The other half of the game is the technical control of Bellows.
  • Listen to the Latino radio stations attentively and passively. Learn from songs you like, but do not forget to listen as you drive or sit around to let your subconscious absorb the music.
  • Mexican music is of the most gratifying types of music around. But whether it is your cup of tea or not, try to learn from the greats and borrow a style here and there until you develop your own. The more you practice, the easier it becomes.
  • While norteno music is the main target, it is wise to listen to players of other button accordion systems. There are countless types of button accordion music, almost one for every European ethnicity! Take advantage of the color you get from different styles, all sharing the same basic foundation.
  • Look into concertina music such as the Anglo-Irish (“Irish concertina”) and the bandoneon/Chemnitz.
  • Look into the various color instruments associated with norteno music cultures like the saxophone, vibraphone, mandolin, banjo, and steel guitar.

 

The norteno musical system

 

The diatonic and bisonoric norteno accordions consist of all the notes with a minimum of one chromatic octave. But we can not call norteno accordions fully chromatic instruments, as the note tones are not similar in every octave.

 

The following separate a norteno accordion from fully chromatic instruments.

 

  • A missing press Bb or no press F
  • An octave above high C has no G#, no press Bb and no press F#
  • It is often inconvenient to obtain the C# or D# above a high C

 

 

Playing the Norteno Accordion

 

Becoming well versed in all things accordion is feasible if you are interested in the norteno accordion and Norteno music. You will use button accordions that are primarily wind-driven instruments for norteno music.

 

You have to get familiar with your instrument because there are several aspects of playing it. For example, there is a specific way of holding your accordion. You must figure out if you want to play sitting or standing, and most notably, get your hands to develop a natural flair for pushing and pulling the bellows. Afterward, you must have an overall mental awareness of all the buttons on your accordion and their meanings.

 

Let us dive into the basic workaround of the button accordion and norteno accordion to help you better grasp foundational elements. We will look at how the accordion works, the basic function of the buttons, and the most efficient way to learn how to play.

 

The buttons

 

While a vested interest and general musical knowledge can be immensely useful in your journey of learning about norteno music, you are required to be able o read music to play.

 

You can effortlessly memorize the different sounds each button of the button accordions makes. Once you are familiar with the sounds and know them by heart, you can play norteno music by ear without having to learn the complex skill of reading sheet music.

 

Regardless, many people also want to develop the ability to read music so they can play many different songs written by other artists. They also want the added benefit of being able to pass on the music they make by writing it in an internationally accepted manner. Therefore you can dive into sheet music if you have a deep desire.

 

The most clear-cut and efficient way to learn button accordion is the Solfege method. The Solfege method is the least sophisticated music notation found in many genres of music. The seven notes you will come across when studying the major scale are represented by the following syllables. Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and te. Almost all modern music can be understood using the Solfege method.

 

Playing with your Hands

 

You will need both your hands to play the button accordion. You will have to utilize your left hand and right hand to press buttons, your left hand to move the accordion and your left arm to some extent.

 

Your right hand

After adjusting your accordion and gearing up to play using your right hand, you will play the higher notes that hold most of the treble in the music. Your fingers will be assigned directly to specific buttons.

 

You may move around the palm of your hand to the region you want to play with as you gently press buttons with the tips of your fingers.

 

Your left hand

 

Your left will have the task of playing predetermined chords and the lower half of the notes that represent the bass. In addition, the airflow of your accordion will also be navigated using your left hand.

While your left wrist hangs in the step of the bass holding the left side of your accordion steady, your left arm will help you navigate the bellows by pushing and pulling.

 

The Straps

 

Your accordion mimics old-school jackets in the way they are worn. Rather than hooks or solid material holding it up while you play, it holds on by straps. These straps come in many ways.

 

For larger accordions that weigh you down, you must utilize a shoulder strap that flows through your back as you can use your entire body to support the weight.

 

There are various other options to strap your accordions, such as thumb straps and wrist straps.

 

Seating position

 

You have options of playing your norteno accordion music sitting down or standing up. The popular way of playing is in a seated position since most musicians find that sitting helps them focus better. In addition, sitting reduces the tension on your body that may develop from carrying your accordion while standing up.

 

If you are the adventurous type and prefer standing, or if you want to give a show while standing up, you can do so by carefully choosing your straps and opting for a less heavy norteno accordion.

 

Do not forget to maintain a position in which your back is straight. Your back position is crucial even if you sit down to play. Once your back is situated comfortably, double-check that your chair is suitable for your height because your feet must rest on the ground while you sit and play.

 

In addition, make sure your right arm has enough space to move around so you can play with ease.

 

As you play, swirl your fingers and keep them in a half-circle position so you can play with the tip of your fingers in a sift manner without the weight of your hand disrupting your flow.

 

Reading music for the norteno accordion

 

While you gear up to play norteno music in the studio or in front of a crowd, you will have the option of playing by heart or reading music and playing it. Whether you prefer sitting or standing, your sheet music will require a sheet stand to be situated in front of you. Adjust the level and height of the sheet stand to match your size.

 

You will find the music your right hand will play in the treble clef section of your norteno accordion sheet music. Conversely, the left side will hold the sheet music for bass, which you will play with your left hand.

 

You can separate the notes and chords with the symbols placed on top of the chords. Some sheet music has chords presented fully, but traditionally, notes are used, with special signs on top of them. The signs include Upper and lower case ‘m’s for major and minor chords. Additionally, “d” is for diminished chords and the number 7 is for 7th chords.

 

Memorizing

 

You deal with two tasks concerning memorizing with your norteno accordion. They are mental memorizations and muscle memory. The first one is not vital because you can develop the knowledge surrounding your accordions functions through reading and watching. The second part requires practice as it is the skill that will let you play effortlessly and get better with time.

 

Since the buttons on your instruments are not colored and since they don’t have signs or numbers on them to differentiate them with, it may be a bit of a struggle to memorize all of them and get familiar with what each button represents.

 

Therefore memorization is key. You must be able to play them purely based on the positions of your hands and the order of the buttons on your norteno accordion. Once you pull this off and know all the buttons by heart, the rest is child’s play.

 

The majority of norteno accordion players will tell you the first few weeks of practice will be the most difficult. Regardless, the rest of your learning journey will be significantly easier.

 

You need to develop a feel for the buttons so you can hit the right notes and chords while focusing your gaze elsewhere.

 

Lessons

 

Whether you are eying zoom for your online learning or an established school filled with reading resources, you must figure out what you are willing to invest to learn the norteno accordion. This can mean time, money, and effort.

 

Free resources are done with groups and they can be great for realizing that you are not alone and receiving moral and other forms of support from peers. On the other hand, lessons that require fees can be hands-on teachings by an experienced teacher guiding you throughout your learning process.

 

In both cases, you can go at your own pace and learn with your methods.

 

If you want to follow a curriculum and learn according to time-tested tried and true approaches, there are many free courses available that you can hop on. As long as you take the time to practice the lessons taught at home by yourself there is no reason why you won’t be able to keep up without the help of a personal tutor.

 

Personalized learning comes at a price but it is not bad if you can afford it. It may save you time because you can learn fast by setting the schedule at your own pace. You don’t have to go by the curriculum and you can give it your all, in a short amount of time instead of spreading the lessons evenly throughout long periods.

 

Remember that all learning is not through teachers but also by yourself. You can teach yourself the norteno accordion from pushing and pulling, to playing, tuning, and maintaining your instrument.

 

 

Top norteno musicians

 

Intocable

 

Intocable (“Untouchable”) is an American Norteño band that originated in Zapata, Texas.

 

It was founded by a group of close friends who had a passion for norteno accordion music from a young age. Ricardo Javier Munoz and Rene Orlando Martinez are the two founding members and friends who kicked off the band’s journey in the 1990s.

 

The band has an original sound that focuses on romance and catchy choruses. They leaned towards love songs despite their genre’s initial days as a social sound for the working class.

 

The band has managed to garner fame and critical acclaim for their memorable hooks and chart-topping songs. They are now considered to be pioneers that many other bands follow and imitate.

 

The band has widely popular albums such as Intocable IV, Contigo, and X. Each album has shaped the way other norteno musicians make songs after being released.

 

Although the founding members of the band shied away from the lead singer and accordionist role, they have found a perfect musician to claim the throne- Ramon Ayala.

 

“La Coqueta” (Th Flirt) was the first single that sparked conversations all over the world and gained the band notoriety. Another song, “Mi Amigo Que Se Fue” (My friend that’s gone), is also a well-received song they recorded after losing some of their band members to a car crash while touring.

 

 

The band has won:

  • Grammy Award for Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album (2005)
  • Latin Grammy Award for Best Norteno Album (2013, 2005)
  • Grammy Award for Best Norteno Album (2011)
  • Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award (2012)

 

 

Ramon Ayala

 

Ramon Ayala is the son of a musical hero, Ramon Cobarrubias, and was born in 1945 at the peak of norteno music. He is a Mexican accordionist and world-renowned songwriter who has served as the father of norteno music by setting the standards with unmatched work ethics that allowed him to produce numerous genera-defining songs with deep lyrics.

 

Despite remaining true to his roots of northern ranchera style of norteno music, the musician has added electric guitars and a drum set to his accompanying band to spice things up.

 

Ramon picked up the accordion at the young age of six years old. His parents having musical backgrounds has helped him grow up into an artist.

 

He played street corners as a young boy and his family cheered him on.

Ramon first started playing with a group when he joined the local band called Los Jilgueros de Marin.

 

He spent some time with the group perfecting his skill before moving on to the next group, Los Pavoreales.

 

Ramon drifted away from his family as a young adult and moved to Reynosa in Tamaulipas, a northern Mexican state. Soon After, in 1963, he rose to fame and fortune when he formed a band called Los Relampagos del Norte.

 

Los Relampagos del Norte’s first album included the critically acclaimed and popular single “Ya No Llores”.

 

As a band, they spent the next eight years establishing new rules and standards for norteno music while garnering fame and accolades.

 

They made the genre accessible to a much wider audience than just hardcore fans as they released 20 albums in a short time. “Devolution”, Mi Tesoro”, “Tengo Miedo” and many more of their albums are considered to be classical works of art to this day.

 

The lead singer, Cornelio Reyna, passed away in 1971, leaving the team at the risk of falling apart, while Ramon was dead set on making sure that things were stable despite suffering a loss.

 

The fact that he was the accordion player and not a lead singer could not stop him from leading the band forward at troubling times. But unfortunately, his perseverance was not enough, so he was forced to move on and start over.

 

Ramon recovered quickly by founding yet another band with another lead vocalist. The new band amassed significant success within a year and he was back on top.

 

Ramon lost a second lead singer right after solidifying his name and becoming a leader of norteno music again. His lead singer leaned toward religious life and dived into Christianity by abandoning his musical career.

 

But a blessing came disguised as a loss because little did Ramon know that finding a better lead vocalist was in his best interest. Ramon found his next lead vocalist within the family.

 

Ramon’s brother had founded a band called Los Satellites de Fidencio Ayala, and they had a singer Ramon wanted by the name of Eliseo Robles. The duo was a force to be reckoned with, and the music they made is known as the standard of norteno music with its perfect and timeless features.

 

When they redefined norteno music they garnered mass appeal and commercial success followed. “Un Rinconcito En El Cielo”, Tragos Amargos” and many classics developed from the partnership between these two artists.

 

Ramona lost Eliseo and partnered with two vocalists to lose them both in a few years.

 

Although he never went back to the golden days concerning success, he is still known as the founder of norteno music.

 

Los Huracanes del Norte

 

Los Huracanes del Norte (The Northern Hurricanes) is a Mexican Norteño band that originated in Tangancicuaro, Michoacan. They record and live in San Jose, California, USA. The name is a household name in nortena music and Mexican culture.

 

Los Huracanes del Norte is a band formed by three brothers.

 

The triad recruited a fourth member down the line as the band evolved very quickly by registering a steadily growing success, both commercially and artistically.

 

The first record achieved gold, but they have received platinum records numerous times since then.

 

The band stays on top of the industry by touring nonstop throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Central America.

 

Willian Schimmel

William Schimmel has reignited the accordion notoriety with his proficient creativity as an accordion artist whose accomplishments leave spectators mesmerized.

 

Schimmel is a sophisticated musician who refuses to limit his accordion-ridden journey exclusively to playing the instrument.

 

He is a songwriter and composer who registered remarkable accomplishments by elevating everything he touches.

 

He has received numerous awards, degrees in compositions, nominations, and over 4,000 records.

 

The National Public Radio awarded him the World Greatest Accordionist title as his skills and talent led to several collaborations with major orchestras, such as the Minnesota Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.

 

To this day, William Schimmel sells out concert halls to large audiences carrying on the legacy he built as a young man. In addition to his music, he is known for being an esteemed philosopher that norteno musicians can look to for guidance. He single-handedly brought back the accordion and tango during times of lukewarm reception.

 

In addition to almost all popular symphonic orchestras like the New York Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and the Metropolitan and City Operas, he has also made his mark by performing in practically every chamber music group based in New York.

 

In Conclusion

Norteno accordions are magnificent instruments that produce a wide range of soulful sounds. Norteno music history has proven that accordions can make a song memorable like no other instrument. Learning and playing norteno accordions is a worthwhile endeavor with juicy rewards.

 

Legends are born every day, so you never know who will shine as a norteno accordionist next. Celebrate the norteno accordion and see what happens.

1 thought on “Norteno Accordion and Norteno Music: A Comprehensive guide”

  1. Great article! This is just what I was looking for after listening to some Norteno music. thanks!

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