Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano in concert with Eugenia Leon October 10, 2009

SAN RAFAEL, CA (September 18) – In celebration with National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) the Marin Center brings Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano in concert with Eugenia Leon, Saturday, October 10 at 8PM. The ensemble has been a driving force in the Northern American mariachi tradition for more than forty years. Led by founder, Nati Cano, the ensemble has both mirrored and shaped the history of mariachi music. The ensemble has had a longtime association with Linda Ronstadt, playing back up in live performances and on her milestone Canciones de Mi Padre album, helping to catapult mariachi music to unprecedented national prominence. Cano and Los Camperos perform some of mariachi’s most beloved songs with vibrancy and intensity; distinguishing them as one of the finest mariachi bands in the world. Mexican vocal diva Eugenia Leon is appreciated nationally and internationally for the strength, versatility and performance quality of her voice and for her elaborate cultural offerings to her beloved native Mexico. She shares the stage with the ensemble for what guarantees to be an unforgettable night! The performance will take place at 8PM at the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags at Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. Tickets are $45; $35 $25; Students 18 and under - $20; Premium Seats - $75 and can be ordered through the Marin Center Box Office at 415-499-6800 or on-line at www.marincenter.org

Born in the state of Jalisco, Mexico to a family of day laborers, Nati Cano knew he had music in his future. In 1950 at the young age of 16, the classically trained Cano traveled north to Mexicali to join Mariachi Chapala. The youngest musician by at least a decade, he stayed with the company for seven years. In 1957, Cano came to Los Angeles and eventually joined the Million Dollar Theater' Mariachi Aguila. In 1961, he was named musical director and proposed changing the name to Los Camperos. In 1969, after years of traveling throughout the Country they became permanently based at La Fonda Restaurant. Los Camperos has since become synonymous with the best mariachi's in the world. They have performed for former President and Mrs. Clinton, former Mexican President and Mrs. Zedillo and appeared on the PBS television special “Americanos,” filmed at the Kennedy Center. The ensemble has recorded several albums including: Puro Mariachi (Indigo Records, 1961), North of the Border (RCA/Carino Records, 1965), El Super Mariachi, Los Camperos (Latin International, 1968), Valses de Amor (La Fonda Records, 1973), Canciones de Siempre (PolyGram Latino, 1993) , Sounds of Mariachi (Delfin Records, 1996), Fiesta Navidad (Delfin Records, 1997), Viva el Mariachi (Smithsonian Folkways, 2003), ¡Llegaron Los Camperos! (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2004), and Amor, Dolor y Lagrimas: Música Ranchera (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2008). Their album ¡Llegaron Los Camperos! was nominated for the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album and they shared a 2005 Best Musical Album for Children Grammy for cELLabration!, A tribute to Ella Jenkins.

Star of her own show "Touching down with Eugenia León,” Eugenia Leon is known for her powerful, expressive voice and unique interpretations. With complete freedom in varied styles and frequent adventures in different music genres, be it contemporary, Mexican traditional or Latin American, she stands out from the ordinary, and has secured a place as a signature performer in the Latin American music known and loved throughout the world. With a career spanning more than 30 years, Eugenia Leon has 24 albums, 5 of them made in 1 year. Her capacity for work, imagination and performance quality have made memorable concerts at venues such as the Palace of Fine Arts, National Auditorium, Sala Nezahualcoyotl, City Theater and International Cervantes Festival, to name a few. For more information on Eugenia Leon, visit her website at http://www.eugenialeon.com