John Vela

John A. Vela was born and raised in Alice, Texas and attended Texas A & I University (Texas A&M-Kingsville), in Kingsville, Texas. He was introduced to the mariachi in the Spring Semester of 1978 when his percussion professor, Linda Pimentel, suggested that he learn guitarron. "In those days, written music or resources were not available for mariachi". In September of 1979, Mr. Vela experienced a life-changing event when he heard Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan for the first …Read More