Corridos

And The Mexican- American Border

Inter-ethnic Conflict

● Tejano (Texan-Mexican) population uprooted by Anglo- institutionalized land-grab ● Texas Rangers, or Rinches, employ indiscriminate violence towards ethnic Mexicans ● Juan Cortina trains private army to defend Tejano’s from eviction ○ Instigates “Cortina Wars” in 1859, 1861

- Juan Cortina - From Cortina’s Proclamation “When the State of Texas became... part of the Union, flocks of vampires, in the guise of men, came... with... corrupt hearts and the most perverse intentions... When we entrusted them with our titles, which secured the future of our families, [they] refused to return them under false and frivolous pretexts....many of you Mexicans have been robbed of your property, incarcerated... murdered and hunted like wild beasts. Mexicans! Is there no remedy for you?” Corridos

● Oral tradition of narrative ballads ● Descend from Spanish ballads of 15th century ● Border Corridos shift from old stories of love & loss to current, current, ‘true-life’ stories of inter- ethnic conflict. ● Combines factual or near-factual story with invented details (e.g dialogue) ● A trusted source of news amongst illiterate El Corrido de Gregorio Cortez as recorded by Pedro Rocha and Lupe Martinez in 1929

● Classic corrido instrumentation ○ 1 guitar ○ 2 voices ■ Twin melody ● Classic strophic structure ○ One melody/chord progression repeated for each stanza

Gregorio Cortez

● Mexican-born, living in Karnes County, Texas ● 1901: Resisted unjust arrest for theft of horse ● Shot sheriff in self defense ● Eluded massive man-hunt for 12 days with help of fellow Mexican-Americans ● Killed second sheriff during second shootout, escaped again ● Turned over for reward ● Convicted for one murder, pardoned after 8 years Typical Corrido Hero-Bandit

1. Defies greater authority, but for noble purposes. 2. The common folk protect him [heroes almost always male]. 3. Story often ends in betrayal or tragic defeat 4. Common folk elaborate legendary heroic qualities via oral tradition El Corrido de Gregorio Cortez

In the county of El Carmen Gregorio Cortez said, The Americanos would say Gregorio says to Juan Look what has happened with his soul ablaze: “If we see him what shall we do to him at the Ranch of the Cypress The main sheriff died "I'm not sorry for killing him, if we face him head on Tell me what’s new leaving Roman wounded. self-defense is justifiable." very few will return.” I am Gregorio Cortez

The following morning The Americans were coming In the corral of the ranch Gregorio says to Juan when the people arrived as fast as the wind, they managed to surround him, Very soon you will see him some, to the others, said because they would earn A little more than 300 men go on to talk to sheriffs they don’t know who killed him a reward of 3,000 pesos. and there he gave them the slip. to come to arrest me

They investigated He fled toward González. There around Encinal When the sheriffs arrive and about three hours later Several sheriffs saw him from all that they say Gregorio presented himself they discovered that but they didn't want to pursue him they had a shoot-out “You’ll take me away if I wish it, Gregorio Cortez was the wrongdoer. because they were afraid. and he killed another sheriff because there is no other way”

A warrant for Cortez's arrest The hound dogs were coming, Gregorio Cortez said Now they caught Cortez was issued throughout the state: following his trail, with his pistol in his hand and the case is closed "Bring him in dead or alive, but catching Cortez “Don’t run, you cowardly rangers His poor family he is wanted for murder." was like reaching for a star. from one lone Mexican he carries in his heart

Gregorio Cortez said, Gregorio Cortez said: He turned toward Laredo Now with this I take my leave with his pistol in his hand: "Why do you even try? without a single fear, in the shade of a cypress "I'm not sorry for killing him, You can't even catch me, “Follow me you cowardly rangers Here we finish singing my concern is for my brother." with those hound dogs." I am Gregorio Cortez” the tragedy of Cortez Smugglers

● Exposed arbitrariness of border and undermining its authority ● Smugglers seen as further casualties of inter- ethnic conflict. ● Mythologized as ‘Robin Hood’ figures though often not true. ● Popularity in corridos tied to unpopular Mexican presidency of Porfirio Díaz 1876- 1911. ● Corrido’s often trusted over Diaz’ state- owned newspapers. ● Mariano Resendez smuggles luxury goods into Mexico late 19th/early 20th century - Mariano Resendez - Corrido de Mariano Resendez

The year nineteen hundred The wagon in which Mariano rode Excerpts From Other Versions left us quite vivid memories: was surrounded by picked men; Mariano Reséndez died; Mariano Reséndez said, Send word to the government apprehended by Nieves Hernández "I have not lost hope." that it should meet its obligations... . At his ranch, which was El Charco, As they were scared of him ..It is really a pity that they on an unfortunate Tuesday, that he might be given some office, should call themselves real Mexicans the man could not save himself they killed him while between as he woke up surrounded. Agualeguas and Cerralvo.

They went to knock down the door Police of Guerrero, when his brother arrived; I carry you all on a list; anxiously they asked him, you will no longer die from fright; "Where can Don Mariano be found?" "The Smuggler" is already dead.

Don José María Reséndez, State of Tamaulipas, his reply was truthful: municipality of Méndez, "Sirs, I do not know anything; because of the fault of contraband I am coming from Santa Elena." did Mariano Reséndez die. Smuggling ● 1900: Resendez, fine clothing ● 1919: US Prohibition spawns tequila smuggling industry. Corridos of tequileros appear shortly after ● 1933: Prohibition ends ● WW2: Sinaloa region grows opium for US Army’s morphine ● 1960s: Mexican mafias begin major dealings in drugs ● Los Tigres del Norte -Contraband y Traicion The Tigers of the North - Contraband and Treason

● Los Tigres del Norte record in 1974. ● Story of Camelia and her lover smuggling marijuana into US. ● Drugs incidental to narrative. ● Hugely popular, spawning two sequel songs continuing story of Camelia ● Arguably spawns trend of songs referencing narco culture ● Narcocorridos descend from corridos of smuggling ● Corridistas often commissioned by druglords ● High risk to corridistas and performers ● Banned by some media since 90s ● Do they glorify narco culture? Los Tucanes de Tijuana - Operacion Pesada The Toucans of Tijuana - Heavy Operation

● How does this story compare to Mariano Resendez’s? Comparing Old and New

Old Corridos New Narcocorridos

Emerge spontaneously Commissioned by drug lords How is it made? Composed anonymously Composed by corridistas

Disseminated orally Disseminated via recordings How does it circulate? Numerous variations Single authoritative version

Sung in third-person Often sung in first-person What is the story like? Tragic ending for hero Triumphant ending for hero Los Tigres del Norte - Los Jefes de Jefes The Tigers of the North - The Boss of Bosses

I'm the Boss of Bosses gentlemen, My work and value have cost me, I get respect from all levels, To manage the contacts that I have, And my name and my picture, Many want to climb to my height, They will never be seen in papers, With no more than my glance they go falling, Because my journalist like me, They wanted to scratch my crown, And if you do not, you'll lose my friendship. Those who try have been dying.

Many chickens that were just born, Already want to fight the rooster, If they could reach my level, Then they would have to suffer many years, And I will not leave the post, Where I give my orders. Questioning Narcocorridos

Who’s emotions, perspective, or fantasy is being expressed in song?

How is this related to the way in which the corrido is produced?

How do these differences shape how we interpret the song?