Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Instructional Artists

Jesus (Chuy) Hernandez

Jesus (Chuy ) Hernandez was born in 1952 in Mexicali, Baja California. His musical career began in the United States at the age of 11. Although he began playing trumpet in the school band, he eventually gravitated toward the guitar while in college. He graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education. His Mariachi career began in 1975 with Mariachi Los Galleros de Pedro Rey (his older brother). In 1981, he and his brother Jose formed Mariachi Sol de Mexico. In 1986, Sol de Mexico was finally given a permanent forum with the opening of Cielito Lindo Restaurant which to this day, continues to showcase its musical talent. Chuy continues to be an integral member of Sol de Mexico and will continue to be until the good Lord brings down the final curtain.

Jorge Contreras

Nací el 8 de diciembre de 1985, en un pueblo de Jalisco, llamado Tecalitlán. Comencé a tocar la música mexicana desde los 8 años de edad. Todo comenzó como un juego para mis primos, mis hermanos y yo, pero conforme pasó el tiempo, ese juego se evolucionó en un mariachi infantil: "Mariachi Infantil Tecalitlense." Pasaron algunos años y mi padre formó el "Mariachi Teca de Tecalitlán." Cuatro años después, recibí la gran oportunidad de formar parte del "Mariachi los Potrillos de Jalisco" del maestro Crescencio Hernández, en la ciudad de Guadalajara por dos años y medio. Después regresé a Tecalitlán, mi ciudad natal, y fue allí donde me invitaron a formar parte del "Mariachi Reyes de Jalisco," al cual pertenecí solo algunos meses porque decidí regresar a la ciudad de Guadalajara, donde recibí otra invitación para ser parte de el "Mariachi Juvenil mi México." A los pocos meses decidí emigrar a los Estados Unidos. Al llegar, tuve una invitación para integrarme al "Mariachi Dorados de Villa" al cual pertenecí alrededor de dos años. Gracias a Dios, a la edad de 20 años, recibí la gran oportunidad de formar parte de uno de los mejores mariachis del mundo, "Mariachi Sol De México" del maestro José Hernández. Es para mí una gran satisfacción el poder ser parte de esta gran institución. Es mi sueño hecho realidad, desde niño anhelaba ser parte de tan prestigioso mariachi, y me siento muy contento el poder compartir momentos de mi vida con todos los integrantes de Sol de México, que aparte de ser grandes músicos, son muy buenos amigos. Le doy gracias a mis padres por inculcarme el arte de LA MÚSICA MEXICANA!!!!!!

Erick Hernandez 


Erick Hernandez was born on June 18, 1983, in Los Angeles, California, making him the 6th generation of musicians in the Hernandez family. He began studying classical violin at the age of 5 through the age of 19. His professional mariachi career began in February of 2002 when he joined Mariachi Sol de Mexico. As of April 2007, he has come full circle and rejoined his father and uncle in Mariachi Sol de Mexico.

"Being chosen to be a violin section leader for the Nations Premier Mariachi--Sol de Mexico--has been both an honor and a challenge. 
Maintaining the style of playing that my family has exemplified for over 125 years plus promoting the advancement of technical aspects of the violin has become a dream come true. "

Antonio Zúñiga

Hola mi nombre es Antonio Zúñiga, nací el 13 de Septiembre de 1978 en el Este de Los Ángeles. Mis padres son Mexicanos, y yo también me considero 100% Mexicano, ya que desde muy niño mis padres me inculcaron la cultura Mexicana, me llevaron a conocer Jalisco, donde pase algún tiempo de mi niñez. Desde muy niño me enamore de la música Mexicana. La mayor parte de mi familia siempre ha tenido el gusto de cantar la música ranchera en nuestras fiestas y reuniones familiares.

A los ocho años mi padre Francisco Zúñiga me compro una guitarra y me enseño mis primeros tres acordes; sol, do y re. Mi papa me decía, "Mira, así se toca ranchera....tun, ta, ta tun ta ta..." Mi amor por mi guitarra era tan grande que me quedaba dormido con ella.

Le doy gracias a mi madre Elia Zúñiga, que me apoyo en mi inquietud por aprender música. La Primera vez que escuché a un mariachi tocar, yo supe lo que quería hacer. Después de escuchar el Son del Gavilancillo, decidí que yo quería tocar la vihuela.

Siempre fue mi sueño llegar a formar parte del Mariachi Sol de México. Hoy mi sueño se ha hecho una realidad y disfruto cada momento siendo parte de este gran mariachi. Le doy gracias al señor José Hernandez por haberme dado esta oportunidad. Y finalmente quiero darle gracias a Dios por siempre acompañarme y cuidar mis pasos en esta profesión.

Roberto Lopez

Born in San Francisco, California, on August 10, 1984, Roberto lived in Mayward until the age of 5, which is when his family moved to Modesto. When he turned 6, Roberto’s father gave him a little red violin which inspired him to practice and he eventually learned to perform on it.  As the years went by, Roberto improved but to this point, had not seen any other young people playing mariachi music. Roberto recounts that some of his most inspirational moments were when his dad would take him to Cielito Lindo Restaurant.  As a result, he knew at a very young age that he wanted to be in Sol de Mexico one day. In 2005, he was honored to audition for Mr. Hernandez who had no prior knowledge of Roberto’s playing experience. Roberto’s dream was realized when he was chosen toperform as a member of Sol de Mexico.

Fernando Moreno

Fernando Moreno, violinist/vocalist, was born in Tucson, AZ to Mexican parents. It was here where his love for Mariachi music was nourished at a very young age. He began playing violin at the age of 12, in a youth group named Mariachi Los Changuitos Feos. Soon after, he began working professionally with Mariachi Cobre at Walt Disney World in Florida. Fernando has been a member of Mariachi Sol de Mexico since 1993. He also teaches voice to young mariachi enthusiasts at the Mariachi Heritage Society. His hobbies are painting and photography.

Roberto Diaz

Mi nombre es Roberto Diaz Perez, originario de Nochistlan, Zacatecas, Mexico.

Naci el 30 de Septiembre de 1988 en Aguascalientes, Ags. Hijo de Ma. Guadalupe Perez y Roberto Diaz. Descendiente de una familia de musicos de la cual soy la sexta generacion; desde mi tatarabuelo y su padre quienes tocaban violin, mi bisabuelo que tocaba guitarra en un conjunto de jaraberos, mis dos abuelos, mis tios y mi padre quien es trompetista y tocador de varios instrumentos. De abolengo, mi inquietud por la musica despierta a temprana edad cantantdo por primera vez con un mariachi a los 6 anos. Poco mas tarde, a la edad de 10 anos, recibi mis primeras lecciones de solfeo y trompeta bajo la guia de mi padre. Comence a tocar con grupo de mi escuela secundaria que dirigia Nicolas Puentes en festivales y eventos de la misma. Con el paso del tiempo toque con varios Mariachis de la region adquiriendo un poco de experiencia en el genero, y despues forme parte del Mariachi Estrella de Teocaltiche, Jalisco. Al terminar la preparatoria y con la inquietud de superarme musicalmente ingrese a la Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Facultad de Musica, en la cual solo dure un ano, ya que por azares del destino tuve que emigrar en Junio de 2006 a Los Angeles, Ca. Para Septiembre de ese mismo ano ingrese al Mariachi Garibaldi, el cual dirigia el Maestro Hipolito Puentes Macias, y en el cual no fue tan larga mi estancia ya que para Enero de 2007 el grupo desaparecio. En Junio de 2007, el Maestro Jose Hernandez me brindo la oportunidad de formar parte de su fabuloso Mariachi Sol de Mexico, el cual fue uno de mis suenos que hoy esta convertido realidad.  Actualmente, como parte de mi preparacion musical estoy tomando clases de musica en Ceritos College. Ademas es una gran satisfaccion ser miembro de esta gran agrupacion musical, el Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez.

Willie was born on March 12, 1984, in Brawley, CA and raised in El Centro, CA. He was exposed to music at a very young age through his parents and grandparents. At age 6, he attended his first concert at the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds where he was first introduced to mariachi through a performance of Sol de Mexico. Years later, he received his first mariachi trumpet lesson by Jose Hernandez. In high school, he was given recordings of “Conjunto Medellin” and “Los Costeños” which soon lead him to become interested in learning to play the harp.  After moving to Los Angeles in 2008, Willie received an invitation from Art Gerst to audition and became the harpist for Mariachi Sol de Mexico.

Gustavo Peña

Gustavo Peña was born September 8, 1982, in Long Beach, CA. When he turned eight, he joined his sister in learning to play music with their father serving as their mariachi instructor. Their father's idea was to create his own family mariachi with his children and brothers. Gustavo later joined the Mariachi Heritage Society Program where he was introduced to Maestro Jose Hernandez and Mariachi Sol de Mexico. Gustavo was inspired to “think big” and strive for success. While in middle school and high school, he played in the school's orchestra program where he learned how to read music as well as interpret classical music.

Gustavo was seventeen years old when he was invited by Maestro Jose Hernandez to join Mariachi Sol de Mexico. He was highly honored to play with these great musicians at such a young age. A lot of his musical ability he owes to his father who helped him develop the gift that he was given to be a musician, interpreter, music instructor, and professional mariachi. Gustavo owes his musical ability to his father who inspired him and helped him develop his musical gifts. His time with Mariachi Sol de Mexico has made Gustavo the accomplished musician he is today.

Jorge Flores

Jorge Alberto Flores was born on November 10, 1989, in East Los Angeles. At an early age, he was fascinated by the music of mariachi and for this reason, began a musical career in Cocula, Jalisco--land of his parents and birthplace of the mariachi. At the age of 11, Jorge began studying in workshops offered by Mariachi Fletes.  When he eventually returned to Los Angeles, he enrolled in his middle school mariachi ensemble and began playing the guitarron. While a student at Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles from 2003 to 2007, Jorge performed with Mariachi Olimpico and as a result of many years of dedication and effort, he had the opportunity to be part of the best mariachi ensemble in the world--Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez. Jorge considers it to be a very great privilege to belong to this ensemble which he had admired since childhood.

Guadalupe González

Guadalupe González was born in Tijuana, Baja California, México in 1961. At the age of six he started playing the trumpet which is his main instrument.  He became curious about the other instruments and soon discovered that he had the ability to learn to play them very quickly. His father eventually told him that he should learn to read music so he taught him how to sing using the art of "solfeo. In 1983, Guadalupe and his family moved to Chicago where he had the opportunity to study at Richard Dealy College which offered the Citywide Orchestra Music Program. He played violin for two years and cello for another two years. When he returned to California, he played with several mariachi ensembles and it was at this time that he had the very good fortune to meet Jose Hernandez. Maestro Hernandez saw that Guadalupe was a very good musician and invited him to see Mariachi Sol de Mexico rehearse and the rest is history. Since February of 2000, Guadalupe has been a member of Mariachi Sol the Mexico de Jose Hernandez. He also shares his enthusiasm and passion for mariachi with his students at Montgomery High School in San Diego where his mariachi program exhibits a long-standing tradition of excellence.