Cornelio Reyna Cisneros (September 16, 1940 – January 22, 1997), better known as Cornelio Reyna, was a
Regional Mexican
Regional Mexican is a Latin music radio format encompassing the musical genres from the different parts of rural Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Genres include banda, country en español, Duranguense, grupero, mariachi, New Mexico ...
singer, composer, bajo sextist and actor. He made over 60 recordings of
Norteño and
Mariachi
Mariachi (, , ) is a genre of regional Mexican music that dates back to at least the 18th century, evolving over time in the countryside of various regions of western Mexico. The usual mariachi group today consists of as many as eight violins, t ...
music. He was the lead vocalist for the group "Los Relámpagos del Norte" (The Lightning Bolts of The North). Reyna was considered a native of the city of
Reynosa, Tamaulipas
Reynosa () is a border city in the northern part of the state of Tamaulipas, in Mexico. It is also the municipal seat of Reynosa Municipality.
The city is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande in the international Reynosa–McAllen Met ...
due to his great affection for the city and that his career grew there. As an actor, Reyna appeared in some 30 films about Mexican popular culture.
Life and career
Reyna was born in Notillas Coahuila, Mexico.
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His parents were María Martínez Cisneros and Román Medellín Reyna. As a teenager, Reyna lived in the city of
Monterrey
Monterrey ( , ) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, Mexico, and the third largest city in Mexico behind Guadalajara and Mexico City. Located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the city is anchor ...
, Nuevo León, and shortly thereafter, moved to
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, where he worked as a bricklayer. Later, in Saltillo, Coahuila, Reyna began his musical career by writing songs, singing, and playing the ''
bajo sexto
Bajo sexto (Spanish: "sixth bass") is a Mexican string instrument from the guitar family with 12 strings in six double courses. A closely related instrument is the bajo quinto (Spanish: "fifth bass") which has 10 strings in five double courses. ...
'' (very similar to a twelve-string guitar)..
In 1957, along with Juan Peña, Cornelio formed the duet ''Dueto Carta Blanca'', frequenting the Cadillac Bar, where many musicians from the region of northern
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas), is a state in the northeast region of Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entiti ...
and southern Texas met. From there, they went out to play at different nightclubs in
Reynosa
Reynosa () is a border city in the northern part of the state of Tamaulipas, in Mexico. It is also the municipal seat of Reynosa Municipality.
The city is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande in the international Reynosa–McAllen Metr ...
, but Cornelio's goal was to do it professionally, taking advantage of his great ability to perform the
bajo sexto
Bajo sexto (Spanish: "sixth bass") is a Mexican string instrument from the guitar family with 12 strings in six double courses. A closely related instrument is the bajo quinto (Spanish: "fifth bass") which has 10 strings in five double courses. ...
.
In 1961, into the same Cadillac Bar walked in a young man named Ramón Covarrubias, who would become famous as
Ramón Ayala
Ramón Covarrubias Garza (born December 8, 1945), known by his stage name Ramón Ayala, is a Mexican singer, composer and songwriter of Norteño music.
Discography
Studio albums (Ramón Ayala Y Sus Bravos Del Norte)
* ''La Pura Maña'' (1971 ...
. He had arrived seeking work as a shoe shiner, but his real skills were elsewhere. Over time, Ramón demonstrated his masterful talent as an accordionist. One day, when Juan Peña decided to take leave from the ''Dueto Carta Blanca'', they invited Ramón to join and present himself as the new companion to Cornelio.
Cornelio and Ramón changed their name to
Los Relámpagos del Norte ("The Lightning Bolts of the North" in Spanish), Ramón excelling with his accordion and Cornelio with his
Bajo Sexto
Bajo sexto (Spanish: "sixth bass") is a Mexican string instrument from the guitar family with 12 strings in six double courses. A closely related instrument is the bajo quinto (Spanish: "fifth bass") which has 10 strings in five double courses. ...
. In addition, Cornelio gained recognition as the fine songwriter-composer of many of the songs they played.
The new duet toured the bars of
Reynosa
Reynosa () is a border city in the northern part of the state of Tamaulipas, in Mexico. It is also the municipal seat of Reynosa Municipality.
The city is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande in the international Reynosa–McAllen Metr ...
, until in 1963, a representative of Bego Records offered to record their first album, which produced what would be their first big hit: "Ya No Llores" ("Don't Cry Any More"). From there, their new-found fame slowly spread over northern Mexico and southern Texas with songs like: "Mil Noches", "Tu Traición", "Me Caí de la Nube", "Lágrimas de mi Barrio", "Mil Besos", "Si Tu Supieras", among many others.
The peculiar vocal quality of Cornelio's delivery and the speed with which Ramón played the accordion marked a new style in Norteña music, where to this day groups and soloists continue to emerge, utilizing as a musical foundation the particular rhythms and style initiated by "Los Relámpagos"…The Lightning Bolts from The North.
In 1971, Cornelio and Ramón decided to go their separate ways. Cornelio moved to Mexico City, recording an LP with
mariachi
Mariachi (, , ) is a genre of regional Mexican music that dates back to at least the 18th century, evolving over time in the countryside of various regions of western Mexico. The usual mariachi group today consists of as many as eight violins, t ...
, which at that point represented one of his most ambitious projects. Later, he began to parlay his prosperous musical career with the cinema, where he performed as an actor and frequently interpreted the songs he created, such as: "Lágrimas de mi barrio", "Me Sacaron del Tenampa", "Me Caíste del Cielo", among others. Cornelio recorded 60 albums and appeared in some 30 films, many of which included his songs, under the production and direction of Rubén Galindo. He a good measure of success in his recordings with mariachi, but his affection by the Norteña music never waned and he alternated his recordings between these two styles.
Throughout his life he maintained contact with his former musical partner, Ramón Ayala, who had formed the group ''Los Bravos del Norte''. There were many occasions when Cornelio appeared on stage to once again perform with Ramón the well-known hits of their Lightning Bolts From the North years.
The last tour he made was in 1996, appearing in several cities in the United States from June to December 24, 1996. He died less than a month later.
Cornelio Reyna died on January 22, 1997, in Mexico City, due to complications from a stomach ulcer. His body was moved to the Plaza Garibaldi, where he was paid tribute. Later, his remains were transported to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, where a large and profoundly sad crowd awaited his arrival. Cornelio was still relatively young, and although his fame was no longer the same as it had been a few years prior, in the southern region of Texas and northeast of Mexico he continued to have a large and faithful following.
Although Reyna died at a young age, he was able to produce many lasting, now iconic hits. All this success had begun with Los Relámpagos del Norte in 1963, with their eponymous hit song, "Ya No Llores". More recently, Ramon Ayala included it in his latest CD, also titled "Ya No Llores".
Discography
*''El Bohemio De La Cancion Ranchera'' (1971)
*''Echale Sentimento... Cornelio'' (1971)
*''Cornelio Reyna'' (1972)
*''Voz Y Temperamento'' (1973)
*''Regresa Cornelio Y Su Conjunto'' (1974)
*''Con El Mariachi Oro y Plata De José Chavez'' (1975)
*''Cornelio Reyna'' (1975)
*''Al Calor De Las Copas'' (1977)
*''El Gallero Del Pueblo'' (1980)
*''Cornelio Reyna'' (1984)
*''Eres Igual Que El Dinero'' (1986)
*''Cornelio Reyna Con Tambora'' (1988)
*''Cornelio Reyna'' (1990)
Filmography
*''
El ojo de vidrio'' (1969)
*''
Valente Quintero
Valente Quintero (1887 – March 19, 1922) was a Mexican sub-lieutenant who is remembered today for his duel against Martín Elenes on March 19, 1922. The event resulted in the death of both men, and was popularized in song as a corrido writte ...
'' (1973)
*''La yegua colorada'' (1973)
*''Lágrimas de mi barrio'' (1973)
*''Me caí de la nube'' (1974)
*''El hijo de los pobres'' (1975)
*''El andariego'' (1978)
*''El llanto de los pobres'' (1978)
*''De Cocula es el mariachi'' (1978)
*''El norteño enamorado'' (1979)
*''Contrabando por amor'' (1980)
*''El ladrón fenomeno'' (1980)
*''Maldita miseria'' (1983)
*''La esperanza de los pobres'' (1983)
References
External links
Cornelio Reyna and Ramon Ayala- interview
Cornelio Reyna on AllMusic.comTexas State Historical Association
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reyna, Cornelio
1940 births
1997 deaths
Bajo sexto and bajo quinto players
Norteño musicians
20th-century Mexican male singers
20th-century guitarists
People from Reynosa
Musicians from Tamaulipas