Characterizing the music of Campanas de América, as simply “Mariachi” does not describe the entire musical spectrum produced by this ensemble of talented musicians. The two time Grammy Award winner, Juan B. Ortiz and his group, Campanas de América (Bells of America) is an innovative twelve piece musical group founded in 1978, by Juan and Belle Ortiz. Expanding in style from traditional mariachi sounds, the band also incorporates more diverse instruments to include the accordion, keyboards and a full drum kit. This energetic musical group often incorporates impromptu dancing coupled with, “gritos” (Mexican yells of enthusiasm,) thus transforming a Campanas performance…into a fiesta!
The groups list of numerous performances includes the Aladdin Casino in Las Vegas, the Willie Nelson Farm Aid Concert in Iowa, and the Kumamoto Festival in Japan. The troupe has performed at many presidential events in Washington D.C., including the Hispanic Heritage Gala for the re-election of President Bill Clinton, in addition to the White House, for President George W. Bush and First Lady, Laura Bush. They have performed on numerous occasions at the Hispanic Heritage Awards at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 2004 Campanas performed for the Hispanic Heritage Awards NBC Television show directed by Emilio Estefan, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The group has also performed with the San Antonio Symphony, (“Fiesta Pops Concert,”) and the Houston Symphony, (“Fiesta Sinfonica.”) They are the first and only mariachi group to display an instrument at the internationally acclaimed Hard Rock Café. On several occasions, Campanas has performed the National Anthem for the San Antonio Spurs, to a packed house of over 18,000 spectators during home games of the NBA playoffs. With the imminent lure of the San Antonio Spurs winning the NBA Championship, in June of 2013 Campanas released, "Go Spurs Go.” The video fueled the fire, created media buzz and received over 36,500 views on YouTube, within days of being released!
Campanas continues to offer numerous mariachi workshops and concerts in schools as well as participate in “Grammy in the Schools,” a program through the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Through their tireless efforts and dedication, the troupe has gained national recognition and public support, attributing much, of its success to the philosophy that “education is key.” Campanas has and continues to be one of the main forces behind mariachi education programs in public schools. This ever evolving mariachi group continues to wow audiences around the world, once again proving that music is a universal language knowing no boundaries.
