Mexican Music: Farm Workers Unite
- Music History Hall
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
History in the Music
Indigenous people first settled in the region that is now Mexico over 13,000 years ago. The Olmecs, Mayans, Zapotecs, Teotihuacan, and Purépechas were some of the civilizations that developed in the region. In the early 16th century, the Spanish conquered the Aztec Empire and established the colony of New Spain. This brought Christianity, European influences, and Spanish rule to the region – and the Spanish Missions. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821.
The Mexican-American War
Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836. In 1845, the U.S. annexed Texas. The Mexican-American War was a conflict between the U.S. and Mexico that took place from 1846 to 1848. The United States annexed Northern Mexico and with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gained over 500,000 square miles of Mexican territory. This made 80,000 Mexicans U.S. citizens. The territory included what would become the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.
The Vaqueros
Mexican cowboys, known as Vaqueros, were the foundation for the North American cowboy. The word vaquero comes from the Spanish word vaca - which means "cow.“ Vaqueros were known for their skills in roping, riding, herding, and understanding the social structure of cattle herds. The Charro was renowned for his superb horsemanship, his skill in handling the lasso, and his unique costume designed especially for horseback riding. English-speaking settlers who migrated to the West in the early 1800s adopted aspects of vaquero culture, including their clothing style and cattle-driving methods.
Traditional Music
Mexican cultural music includes ranchera, mariachi, and corrido. The songs that the first stars of Mexican music sang were diverse in style and substance. The musicians sang about the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and its heroes and the challenges they faced north of the border. They paid tribute to war heroes, recounted natural disasters, and documented shared experiences within the Mexican American community including labor and immigration. The music became an integral part of American music.
When electric portable equipment was introduced in 1927, labels began recording regional musicians in cities like El Paso, San Antonio, and Los Angeles. Lydia Mendoza, the Queen of Tejano music, made her first recording in 1928 in San Antonio, Texas.
Later, Vicente Fernández became known as the King of Ranchera Music. He recorded more than 100 albums and appeared in more than 30 films. He won four Grammy Awards and is one of the bestselling regional Mexican artists.
The Chicano Movement
In the 1960s, the Chicano Movement led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta advocated for social and political empowerment through cultural nationalism. They pushed for change in multiple parts of American society, from labor rights to education reform. A key term in Chicano Movement activism was self-determination - the idea that Chicanos were a nation within a nation that had the right to determine their own future.
