Harris Center Welcomes Aida Cuevas, 'The Queen Of Mariachi'

Two giants of traditional Mexican music: Aida Cuevas, dubbed "The Queen of Mariachi," is an esteemed figure in Mexico, beloved for her devotion to traditional mariachi music and for her Grammy Award-winning mastery of its demanding vocal forms. On October 7, she pays loving tribute to the music of her dearest friend and greatest mentor - Mexico's bestselling artist of all time, Juan Gabriel, who passed in 2016 - two years ago yesterday. Ms. Cuevas, the only artist given permission by the Juan Gabriel estate to perform such a tribute, "is to Mexico what Aretha Franklin is to the United States: a powerful voice that encapsulates the essence of her nation's spirit" (Kansas City Star).

The concert features Cuevas' Mexico City based-mariachi band, Mariachi Juvenil Tecatitlán, with special guest musicians on the requinto guitar, accordion, percussion, and keys. The performance is sponsored by Festival de la Familia and includes opening festivities by Ballet Folklórico Nube de Oro.

AIDA CUEVAS AND MARIACHI JUVENIL TECALITLAN comes to Stage One on Sunday, October 7, 2018, at 2 pm. Tickets are $42-$58; Premium $62. Children & Students with ID $28. Tickets are available online at www.harriscenter.net or from the Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 12 noon to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Parking is included in the price of the ticket. The Harris Center is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

Aida Cuevas has created one of the most important careers in traditional Mexican music. With a 42-year career and 39 album releases to her credit, Cuevas, dubbed "The Queen of Mariachi," is an esteemed figure in Mexico, beloved for her unswerving devotion to traditional mariachi music and for her mastery of its demanding vocal forms. Cuevas celebrates a long-lasting career with a Grammy Award in 2018 for "Best Regional Mexican Music Album" for her CD Arrieros Somos (Versiones Acústicas), a Latin Grammy Award and seven Latin Grammy Award nominations in the "Best Mariachi/Ranchero Album" category.

Cuevas' latest release Totalmente Juan Gabriel Vol. II , is the second of five CD installments in which she pays tribute to the legendary singer and songwriter. Gabriel produced two albums for Cuevas, 1983's Aida Cuevas Canta a Juan Gabriel and 1985's Exitos. The first volume of Totalmente Juan Gabriel was released in 2013. Cuevas celebrates the life and career of her dearest friend and greatest mentor with a special U.S. tribute tour. She is the only artist authorized by the Juan Gabriel estate to record and tour his music.

Juan Gabriel passed away on August 28, 2016 as Mexico's bestselling artist of all time with over 100 million albums worldwide. Juan Gabriel, a six-time Grammy nominee, was inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1996 and given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009.

Cuevas is a master of the mariachi art song performing a full range of mariachi numbers, including the falsetto heavyweight "El Pastor," the iconic Juan Gabriel hits "Te Doy Las Gracias," "Te Vas a Quedar Con Las Ganas," and "Quizás Mañana," as well as new songs from Totalmente Juan Gabriel Vol. II, including "Gracias Por Todo," "Cada Vez," and "Buscando el Séptimo Amor." Cuevas also performs many ranchero classics such as "Traición a Juan," and the José Alfredo Jiménez compositions "Me Equivoque Contigo" and "No Me Amenaces."

Cuevas was the only woman to receive a nomination for Best Regional Mexican Music Album at the 2018 Grammy awards, making history as the first female Mexican ranchera singer to win a Grammy award in the category. She outpaced all-time male favorites like Julion Alvarez y su Norteño Banda and Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga.

"I was surrounded purely by men, and I was blessed," Cuevas told NBC News, in reference to her fellow nominees. Certainly, the importance of her win was not lost on her. " 'This award is a good gateway for everyone, especially women, who want to sing or are already singing rancheras.' Rancheras stems from the Mexican revolution, and the musical genre is overflowing with drama, passion, and patriotism. And like any good ranchera musician, Cuevas wore a traditional charro outfit to pick her Grammy and give her acceptance speech. 'My charro outfit is like my second skin. It fills me up with pride every time I wear it... Going up that stage with my attire, representing an entire country which is mi México lindo, was one of the best experiences of my life.' "

Her unique voice and style have allowed her to cultivate a successful career spanning decades, leaving a remarkable imprint in the history of Mexican music.

Great Shows. Up Close. In Folsom!

The Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College brings the community together to share in cultural experiences featuring the work of artists from throughout the region and around the world. Built and operated by the Los Rios Community College District, the $50 million, state-of-the-art regional performing arts center boasts three intimate venues with outstanding acoustics, an art gallery, a recording studio, elegant teaching spaces, plenty of safe parking and all the other amenities of a world-class performing arts venue. Each year the Center hosts over 400 events attracting more than 150,000 annually.

Tickets are available online at www.HarrisCenter.net or from the Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from noon to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time.

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