During the turmoil of the 1960’s, a group of Mexican Teenagers crossed the border between Mexico and the United States of America with the hope of finding economic opportunities. While they were crossing the border, the customs officials saw them and called them «miniature tigers». The teenagers eventually settled in San Jose, California where they started their career in 1968.
The name that these teenagers adopted for their newly found band was Los Tigres Del Norte or The Northern Tigers in honor of the nickname and the fact that they resided north of Mexico. It was the beginning of an era that continues to this day. Los Tigres Del Norte achieved recognition when they were discovered by Art Walker of the emerging record label Fama Records.
The group like the record company was evolving with the addition of instruments such as drums and electric guitars as well as the study of other forms of music. The first recording of Los Tigres Del Norte was «Contrbanda y Traicion» [Contrband and Treason] which dealt with the story of Camelia La Tejana and Emilio Varela. It also lead to the creation of los corridos [ballads that dealt with life among the border between Mexico and the United States of America].
Los Tigres Del Norte have recorded many songs for films in Mexico, Latin America, and the US Latin Community. One of the favorite songs of the underwriter was «La Jaula De Oro» or The Golden Cage. The underwriter can relate to this story since he has seen how the immigrants from Latin America have managed to find the «American Dream» while the US Latins [the Latins born in the USA] have forgotten their roots or do not want to know about them.
The underwriter first heard of Los Tigres Del Norte when he was living in Venezuela. He used to visit his girl friend who was born in Texas to Mexican Parents. She played one of the albums of Los Tigres Del Norte and the underwriter immediately liked the music. It was a music that was joyful, original [even though it may be related to the Polka Music in Germany and Poland], and was free of expletives.
The underwriter would go out with his Tex Mex girlfriend to the nearby beach at her home in Venezuela with Los Tigres Del Norte playing in the car. It was a music that brought great memories and the music is still great to hear at the present time. Los Tigres Del Norte have been true to themselves and have been rewarded by Governors, Painters, Streets named in their honor, and an exhibition at the Smithsonian Instiution.
It is hoped that Los Tigres Del Norte can continue for a long time since they are the real thing in music.
El Noticiero de Alvarez Galloso 