Jose Hernandez

Jose Hernandez and his Mariachi Sol de Mexico® have a biography and history as rich and colorful as mariachi music itself. A proud fifth-generation mariachi musician, Maestro Hernandez’ roots trace back to 1879 to the birthplace of mariachi – Jalisco, Mexico. Ever since he founded Mariachi Sol de Mexico® in 1981, Jose has gone on to break countless barriers in the world of mariachi music and is now recognized as having turned the genre into the international sensation it is today.

An accomplished trumpet virtuoso and graduate of the Grove School of Music, Jose is the first mariachi musician to have arranged, composed and conducted for numerous international symphony orchestras. His platinum-selling Sol de Mexico® became the first mariachi ensemble to be nominated three times for a Grammy – most recently on September 25th for his new symphonic CD, “La Música” with Mariachi Sol de Mexico and the Sinfonica Nacional de Las Americas. He is also being recognized for his work on Vikki Carr’s new CD, “Viva la Vida.” Not only did Jose co-produce the album and provide all of the accompaniment with “Sol de Mexico,” he also composed one of the selections for this album, “Ay Amor De Mis Amores,” “Sol” continues to travel the world as Ambassadors of Mariachi Music having performed to sold-out venues through the world including Spain, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Mexico, China and North Korea. Hernandez has performed for five US Presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Hispanic Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Latinos in America.

Jose is especially proud of his work in education and is committed to working with young musicians to guide them along the way. He has collaborated with school districts throughout the country to assist them in building standards-based mariachi programs and has developed a full line of mariachi instruments for West Music Company. As a Conn-Selmer Performing Artist, Jose is solely responsible for developing the new, highly acclaimed and ground-breaking Bach Stradivarius LR19043B Trumpet which was premiered at the NAMM Show in January of 2013.

Over the past year, Hernandez has also been collaborating with Hal Leonard Corporation which just released five of his arrangements including CIELITO LINDO, EL SON DE LA NEGRA, MARIETA, ME HE DE COMER ESA TUNA and POR UN AMOR. These authentic arrangements were inspired by Jose’s desire to provide appropriate selections for school ensembles that would focus on authentic performance style.

It has been well documented that Jose Hernandez and Mariachi Sol de Mexico® are an irrefutable institution within the mariachi genre. They continue to leave an undeniable legacy through their recordings as well as their contributions to the film industry including performances in Seabiscuit, Old Gringo, American Me, Don Juan de Marco, A Million to Juan, Glory Road, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Rango.

Maestro Jose Hernandez is not only responsible for setting a new standard for all mariachi ensembles today, but also for immortalizing this wonderful, passionate music across the world.