José Hernández is a master of mariachi music.
The Grammy-winning world-renowned musician, composer, and music educator, is founder of the world-famous Mariachi Sol de México and America’s first all-female professional mariachi ensemble Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles. He also directs the mariachi ensemble that plays at L.A. Rams football games.
José’s family hails from Miraflores, Jalisco. He is a seven-generation mariachi whose family, arguably the longest continuous mariachi family, has played music professionally since the 1700s when Mexico was New Spain. José’s daughter, Crystal, is following the family tradition, joining her father’s ensemble Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles.
José and his Mariachi Sol de México received their latest Latin Grammy nomination in 2022 for their album 40 Aniversario Embajadores del Mariachi, a collection of classic rancheras. José has nine Latin Grammy nominations, and the ensemble has seven. His arrangements and orchestrations have led his mariachi to share the stage with Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and Jalisco Symphony. Recently, the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra debuted his composition Rapsodia para un mariachi. Mariachi Sol de México has played sold-out concerts from Madison Square Garden to Beijing, China, and Pyongyang, North Korea. It has played for five U.S. presidents from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama.
The versatility of Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández led to amazing collaborations with legacy artists such as The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, Selena, Linda Ronstadt, Juan Gabriel, Jose Feliciano, Vicente Fernández, and a record-breaking tour with superstar Luis Miguel. The ensemble has also provided music for the soundtracks for films Old Gringo, American Me, Rango, Glory Road, Sea Biscuit, Don Juan de Marco, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and many more.
José works tirelessly to inspire and empower the next generation of musicians, helping to create mariachi music programs in schools in 37 states. He founded The José Hernández' Mariachi Nationals and Summer Institute and the Mariachi Heritage Society. In 2021, he received the Cesar Chavez Legacy of Service Award, recognized for his work elevating the perception of mariachi music throughout the world.
