Pancho Barraza

Pancho Barraza was born in Villa Unión, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, on June 18, 1961. His passion for music began at an early age, manifesting itself in his participation in various musical competitions during his childhood. After completing his studies at the Benemerita Escuela Normal de Sinaloa as a music teacher, he practiced this profession in a secondary school in the town of Villa Unión until he was 22 years old. During this time, he also joined the Karisma group and the local church choir as a bassist. Although initially reluctant to delve into the banda genre, Pancho Barraza was recruited by the Banda Sinaloense Los Recoditos in 1989. His first foray into banda music resulted in the recording of his first album with the group for Discos Musart in 1990. Barraza not only contributed as a bassist, but also stood out as a writer in the six productions he made with Los Recoditos until 1994. In 1995, he decided to embark on his own musical path and founded the Banda Santa María, releasing their first album titled “Mis canciones de amor”. Over the years, Pancho Barraza has continued to explore different musical facets, including a foray into the mariachi genre with the album “Invéntame un amor” in 1997, which included the hit “Pero la Recuerdo”. Throughout his career, he has released a number of albums both solo and in collaboration with other prominent artists, such as Mariano Barba and Julión Álvarez. His musical versatility and ability to connect with audiences have earned him the nickname “The Idol of the Crowds.”