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Mariachi Cobre is a professional musical ensemble that performs traditional Mexican folk music. They are located in Orlando, FL and have been performing in the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World since 1982.

Trumpets

 * Stephen Carrillo (Co-founder)
 * Miguel Molina (1989)

Armonia

 * Omar Olivas - Guitar (2006)
 * Luis Ranjel - Vihuela (2015)
 * Alejandro Garcia - Guitarron (2018)

Violins

 * Israel Molina
 * Pablo Hector Gama (1990)
 * Carlos Gama (2007)
 * Joseph Baca (2013)
 * Roberto Romo (2018)
 * Aaron Piedra (2018)

Los Changuitos Feos (1964-1971)
Tucson, Arizona is a multicultural community, strongly steeped in Mexican tradition. In 1964, a novice Irish American Catholic priest and jazz pianist, first became aware of a Mexican folk music known as Mariachi. Fr. Charles Rourke heard the vinyl recordings in the rectory of Saint Augustine's Cathedral as they were being played by fellow priest, Fr. Arsenio Carrillo. Motivated by those recordings and his own musical background, Fr. Rourke’s “summer project” became Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson, the first Mariachi Juvenil (Youth Mariachi) in the United States. The group is 56 years old in 2020.

The membership of the youth mariachi was composed of Mexican Americans and Anglo-Americans with musical training coming mostly from private instruction and the public school system. They traveled nationally and internationally performing in Guadalajara and Mexico City in 1966 and 1967 and throughout the United States including the Richard Nixon Presidential Inaugural in Washington, D.C., Universal Studios Hollywood, and annually at Disneyland of California beginning in 1969. The Disney connection would prove significant to Mariachi Cobre in the coming decades.

A board of directors managed Los Changuitos Feos. Among its many accomplishments was the establishment of a scholarship program to provide financial resource for education for its members upon graduation from High School and the group. By 1965 and 1966 Los Changuitos Feos had recorded three 45 rpm records that featured: La Culebra, Canción Mexicana, La Bamba, Mañanitas Guadalupanas (Buenos Días Paloma Blanca), Las Perlitas, and Las Alazanas.

This was the foundation that allowed Mariachi Cobre to become one of the musical groups at the vanguard of the mariachi music movement in the United States of America.

Birth of Mariachi Cobre
In 1971, upon graduation from high school and the youth mariachi, Randy Carrillo continued what was begun and founded Mariachi Cobre. Stephen Carrillo (Randy’s brother) and Mack Ruiz, cofounded Mariachi Cobre and were joined by other first generation members Antonio Saldívar, Paul Romo, Wilfred Arvizu, and George Corrales. Soon after, Gilbert Vélez, David Ruiz (Mack’s brother) Francisco Grijalva, Fred Tarazón, Jim Acuña, Rubén Moreno and other Tucson musicians were making mariachi music with Cobre. During these formative years the members of Cobre pursued their educations and began developing professional careers.

The Disney Connection
In the summer of 1973 the “Disney Connection” from the mid sixties surfaced. Mariachi Cobre performed at Walt Disney World’s Disney's Contemporary Resort and Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida while members were on summer break from school. The same happened in 1974 and the relationship with The Walt Disney Company continued to play a significant part in the early years of Cobre. Shortly after, in 1975, Mariachi Cobre recorded a 33-rpm long play disc and in the following years traveled to Washington (state), Wisconsin, California and throughout their home state of Arizona.

Trumpets

 * George Corrales (Orginal Member)
 * Wilfred Arvizu (Original Member)
 * Paul Romo (Original Member)
 * David Ruiz
 * Ruben Moreno (1973-1978)
 * Fernando “Bernie” Sanchez (1972-1974, 1978-1987)
 * Louie Marinez (1989-1995)

Armonia

 * Randy Carrillo (Co-Founder) Guitarron
 * Roberto Martinez (1976-2014) Vihuela
 * Francisco “Frank” Grijalva (1974-, -2004) Guitar
 * Gilbert Vélez (1972) Guitar
 * Javier Trujillo (1995-1998) Guitarra de Golpe
 * Adam Romo (2004-2005) Harp
 * Adalberto Gallegos (1976- ) Guitar

Violins

 * Mack “Macario” Ruiz (Original Member)
 * Tony Saldivar (Original Member)
 * Fernando “Fernie” Moreno (1984-1988)
 * Mario Trujillo (1997-2006, 2007-2012)
 * Arturo Pasalagua (2007-2018)
 * Christopher Figueroa (
 * Adolfo Garcia
 * Antonio “Toño” Hernandez
 * Jimmy Acuña
 * Fred Tarazon
 * Hector Castro
 * Julie Kogan (1982-1984)
 * Manuel Villa
 * Pat Carreón
 * Rebecca Gonzalez (1984-1986)
 * Cuco Del Cid (1977)