It all goes back to the early days of Vargas when the group moved to Mexico City from Tecalitlan in 1933. Mexico’s President Lazaro Cardenas employed the group as police officers for the Mexico City Police Department. The group became the official mariachi and worked in performances throughout the city. This allowed the group to perform for 20 years with a regular salary.

Now, nearly 80 years later, “Pato” has been hired by the Mexico City Police Department to work as a mariachi musician. It all works out. “Pato” gets a salary, benefits, paid vacation, holiday bonuses and a gun. No bullets but, maybe a gun. Well, we don’t know that for sure but we do know that he makes an occasional appearance as an on duty, uniformed police officer and spends most of his time playing the vihuela with the mariachi group currently employed by the police department, Mariachi Guardia Nacional.

“Pato” was last seen on U.S. territory in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the recent Mariachi Spectacular. “Pato” is selling his own brand of vihuelas and living well. Hugs go out to “Pato” for all of the joy he has shared throughout the years with people around the world.

Are you a fan of Pato? Follow him on mariachimusic.com.