MARIACHI ORGULLO DE AMERICA

Mariachi Orgullo de América is the premier mariachi of the Midwest. Since 2002, Mariachi Orgullo has been honored to represent the Mexican and Latin culture all over this region of the United Sates. Entertaining, educational, and authentic, Mariachi Orgullo de América strives everyday to spread the mariachi tradition to other cultures while, at the same time, keeping the art form alive and well within the Hispanic community. Proud of its diversity and heritage, this musical groups brings the different backgrounds of its members to enrich its performances and to bring perspective to everything it does. That is why this mariachi is known as "Mariachi Pride of America!"

Mariachi Orgullo de America has played for Governor Henry, Governor Fallin, Senator Inhoffe, the floor of the House of Representatives, the Thunder OKC half time show, Bob Stoops, Barry Switzer, Toby Keith, Sherri Coale, Carmen Hara, Jorge Salinas, Lorenzo de Monteclaro, Maribel Guardia, El Chapo de Sinaloa etc. and has performed with the Arkansas Philharmonic and with the Walt Disney’s Official Mariachi, Mariachi Cobre and Mariachi Capanas de America. Mariachi Orgullo has toured in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. They released their first album “Oklahoma’s Mariachi” in 2011 and their single “Urge” in 2016.

In 2005, Mariachi Orgullo de America helped to found the first mariachi school programs in with the help of VH1 establishing the program in three elementary schools in the Oklahoma City Public Schools and the Anita Martinez Mariachi Festival to help maintain those programs. Due to the budget cuts, 2 of the 3 programs where just cut this past year. In Jan of 2017, Mariachi Orgullo de America worked with Academia OKC to establish a music program in Shidler Elementary and has grown programs in 2017-2018 school year to 3 programs at Shidler Elementary, 1 at Adams Elementary, 1 KIPP Charter Prep, 1 at Green Pastures Elementary and 1 after school program.

Current Members: Robert Ruiz - vocals, vihuela, and trumpet; Juan Santana Garcia - vocals and guitar; Joel Diaz - vocals and guitar; Geo Morgan - Guitarron; Kevin Stringfellow - trumpet; Sean Wright - trumpet; Wilmari Ruiz - Flute; Maria Belen Ruffin - Violin; Maritza Ruiz - Violin; Sonia Ruiz - Violin, Gus Waever - Violin, and Alex Irwin - Violin.

Discography:

Oklahoma's Mariachi - 2011
Urge Single - 2016
*Proceeds from the single "Urge" will go to benefit the Stephenson Cancer Center Research.