Miguel Martínez is often referred to as the father of the modern mariachi trumpet. He began his career as a teenager in Plaza Garibaldi of the mid-1930s, at a time when the trumpet was commonly rejected by mariachi audiences. In 1942, he became the first trumpet player to join Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, which until then had been strictly a string ensemble. For the better part of the next three decades, Miguel remained the sole trumpeter for Mariachi Vargas, where he literally wrote the book on mariachi trumpet performance, creating thousands of golden era recordings that have yet to be equaled. If that wasn’t enough, in a one-year stint with Mariachi México de Pepe Villa in 1953, he defined and popularized the trumpet duet that remains the norm for mariachis today. Furthermore, maestro Martínez is the distinguished composer of a large number of mariachi instrumental standards and songs. During the past two decades, he has become a popular figure at mariachi festivals and conferences in the U.S. and Mexico, where he shares his knowledge and experience with younger generations.

Jonathan Clark, Miguel Martínez, and Eduardo Martínez