About a year ago, Los Tucanes de Tijuana opened their sold-out show at Salinas’ Fox Theater with “El Tucanazo,” the quintet’s unofficial theme song, which has even inspired its own dance. The at-capacity crowd, decked out in freshly pressed cowboy and cowgirl attire, sang along and moved in unison, immersed in the total experience of Los Tucanes de Tijuana. The group’s concerts are famously propelled to dizzying heights with the added bonus of a dazzling light show.
Mario Quintero Lara (lead vocals, composer, bajo sexto), David Servin Raya (percussion), Tomas Herrera (bass), Gustavo Labrada Valenzuela (drums) and Alfredo Gonzalez Gonzalez (accordion, vocals) are regarded as ambassadors of traditional Mexican Norteño music, which embodies elements of banda, corridos, ballads and cumbia.
Though the quintet has filled Dodger Stadium, Central Park and Zocalo Plaza in Mexico City, their energy moves at the same lightening velocity in smaller venues. Los Tucanes’ draw is a worldwide phenomenon similar to the Grateful Dead: They perform about 120 concerts every year, averaging 5,000 people per show, which adds up to more than 5 million attendees to date.
Meanwhile, Los Tucanes have sold over 14 million records, delivered more than 65 Billboard chart-topping hits, scored 30 Platinum certified records and they’ve been nominated for 12 Latin Grammys. In 2010, the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles honored Los Tucanes by displaying Mario Quintero Lara’s show suit next to the performance garb of Ricky Martin, Celia Cruz and other notables, as part of an exhibit dedicated to great Latin performers.
In 2012, the band finally won a Latin Grammy for their acclaimed 365 Dias. But a huge coup for Los Tucanes came the day after their 2017 Salinas show. Frontman Mario Quintero Lara was invited to participate in the NFL Honors ceremony, announcing the start of the Super Bowl on Fox Sports.
The portion of the program had never been broadcast in Spanish before, which made the occasion historic. But making history is nothing new for Los Tucanes de Tijuana.
In 2008, Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism asked Los Tucanes de Tijuana founder Mario Quintero Lara to pen “Mexico es Tu Casa” (“Mexico is Your Home”) as part of a new tourism campaign.
LOS TUCANES de TIJUANA 8pm Friday, Feb. 2. Fox Theater, 241 Main St., Salinas. $40. 758-8459, foxtheatersalinas.com
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