The 2015 Tucson Mariachi Conference is coming up (April 8-11) where you can see mariachi performances and competitions, register for workshops, and more. Your beloved Mariachi Alegre De Tucson members were originally part of the Tucson International Mariachi group and helped being this beautiful form of music in conference form from San Antonio, Texas to the wonderful city of Tucson.
If you want to be a part of this conference but are not part of a Mariachi group you can volunteer your time, provide vendor services, make donations, and more.
The conference honors outstanding members of the mariachi culture for a Hall of Fame award. 2013 saw the acceptance of Daniel Buckley for his writing and research about mariachi and the folklórico surrounding them in Tucson. He has also done extensive work towards creating a video documentary focusing on mariachi and folklórico dancers. A humble and honest man, he openly thanks those who have helped him from the beginning and will continue to thank and welcome assistance for future projects including his newest work, a documentary about how these performers and dancers have changed Tucson.
On Daniel Buckley’s personal Facebook page you can see how much he cares about Tucson and how interesting the area can be, sharing photos, stories, and more. Some of his photographs are breathtakingly beautiful and remind us how much history is behind Arizona and the mariachi lifestyle. He also encouraged friends and followers to support the Mariachi Miracle and other groups. His work reminds us how Mariachis are a part of our culture and history and how the two reflect upon one another. Much like the music has evolved alongside us, so has the beautiful state we live in.
On top of discussing how Mariachi have affected the culture around us in Tucson, his newest project, which should be completed or near completion at this time, focuses about how these performers have changed the lives of Latinos in various ways, primarily economically and in their attitudes. When Mariachi was first introduced to Tucson in 1964, the city council had been in the progress of removing all traces of Mexican culture, tearing down historical buildings to make way for more urban buildings and lifestyles. Kids from Mexican decent were not doing well in school, were not supported in the community, and were dropping out of school at alarming rates. Now, these kids are taking pride in their heritage and attitudes towards Mexican culture has vastly improved. Buckley sought out interviews of key figureheads for the movements towards acceptance and excellence of Latinos in Tucson society. The first section of this project was funded by Kickstarter, proof that this is something the society wanted.
The work of Buckley has helped keep Mariachi culture alive and is educating people on the important role in modern history this style of performance has held. For more information about his documentaries and work, check out his website.
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