Music of New Mexico
Encyclopedia
New Mexico
is a state of the Southwest
United States
.
Perhaps the first well known group hailing from New Mexico was THE FIREBALLS scoring a #1 hit in 1963 called Sugar Shack.
For the next national exposure in pop/rock arena New Mexico had to wait almost 40 years.
In 2002 song called New Slang was heard on TV commercials across the country.
The group was THE SHINS , which became a perennial favorite among indie folk/pop/rock fans
worldwide.
Next international success came when a young Santa Fe and Albuquerque resident Zach Condon
formed an ethno/world influenced band called BEIRUT.
Native American music is represented by Taos Pueblo's Robert Mirabal who received Grammy
Award for his recent work.
Other notable musicians associated with New Mexico are :
Eliza Gilkyson, Tish Hinojosa, Farzad, Deuter, Ottmar Liebert, Rahim AlHaj, Soular, Hazeldine,
Wagogo, Jaka, Man Born Blind, Joy Harjo, Consuelo Luz
, Hector Pimentel, The Eyeliners, Vanilla Pop and Jason Daniello.
The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
, currently under the leadership of Guillermo Figueroa, has been performing since 1932. Other music institutions in the state include the prestigious Taos School of Music, the Santa Fe Community Orchestra
and the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
. The English-language state song of New Mexico is "O Fair New Mexico
," adopted by the state legislature in 1917. In 1971, "Así es Nuevo México" was adopted as the Spanish-language state song. In 1989, the legislature adopted "Land of Enchantment" by Michael Martin Murphey
as the official state ballad; and in 1995, the legislature adopted "New Mexico - Mi Lindo Nuevo México" by Pablo Mares as the state's official bilingual state song.
heritage includes Red River
's Michael Martin Murphey
, a cowboy singer and popular local attraction, as well as the Old West town of Las Vegas, New Mexico
. The town of Clovis
was home to the Norman Petty Studios, where Texans Buddy Holly
and Roy Orbison
recorded; the town of Ruidoso
is home to the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium.
is home to the Santa Fe International Festival of New Music , the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
, and the Santa Fe Opera
. Taos
is home to the Seventh Annual Taos Solar Music Festival.
June is the month for many festivals in New Mexico.
Besides Taos Solar Music Festival at the end of June, there is Southwest Roots Music Festival,
also called THIRSTY EAR MUSIC FESTIVAL that takes place in the middle of June just outside Santa Fe at the famous western movie set. Festival features well known artists representing the
roots of folk, blues, bluegrass, world music etc.
Perhaps the most successful of all festivals in New Mexico is GLOBALQUERQUE taking place
at the end of every September since 2005 at the wonderful Hispanic Cultural Center in
Albuquerque.
Festival features some of the best music from all continents (folk/ethno/pop) as well as some of the Native American and Hispanic acts.
Red River in Northern New Mexico has a Bluesfest in early June and Larry Joe Taylor's Music Festival and Chili Cookoff featuring well-known songwriters such as Richard Leigh, Keith Sykes, Joe Ely and Michael Hearn.
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
is a state of the Southwest
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Perhaps the first well known group hailing from New Mexico was THE FIREBALLS scoring a #1 hit in 1963 called Sugar Shack.
For the next national exposure in pop/rock arena New Mexico had to wait almost 40 years.
In 2002 song called New Slang was heard on TV commercials across the country.
The group was THE SHINS , which became a perennial favorite among indie folk/pop/rock fans
worldwide.
Next international success came when a young Santa Fe and Albuquerque resident Zach Condon
formed an ethno/world influenced band called BEIRUT.
Native American music is represented by Taos Pueblo's Robert Mirabal who received Grammy
Award for his recent work.
Other notable musicians associated with New Mexico are :
Eliza Gilkyson, Tish Hinojosa, Farzad, Deuter, Ottmar Liebert, Rahim AlHaj, Soular, Hazeldine,
Wagogo, Jaka, Man Born Blind, Joy Harjo, Consuelo Luz
Consuelo Luz
'Consuelo Luz' is a Chilean-Cuban singer of Sephardic, Mapuche and Basque origins. Daughter of a Chilean Sephardic mother and a Cuban father from the Basque Province of Spain.-Biography:...
, Hector Pimentel, The Eyeliners, Vanilla Pop and Jason Daniello.
The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 20, 2011, announcing that it would cease operations and existence. Orchestra members were notified of the board's decision to file for bankruptcy by email, a few hours after the vote was taken...
, currently under the leadership of Guillermo Figueroa, has been performing since 1932. Other music institutions in the state include the prestigious Taos School of Music, the Santa Fe Community Orchestra
Santa Fe Community Orchestra
The Santa Fe Community Orchestra is an amateur orchestra based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In addition to performing concerts, the orchestra conducts educational programs, including children’s concerts, instrument-making workshops, and workshops for adult musicians. Some orchestra members have...
and the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus is Santa Fe's flagship professional musical organization. Performances are given at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe.- Beginnings :...
. The English-language state song of New Mexico is "O Fair New Mexico
O Fair New Mexico
"O Fair New Mexico", the state song of the U.S. state of New Mexico was officially selected in 1917. It was adopted as the state song by an act of the New Mexico legislature, approved on March 14, 1917, as signed by Governor Washington E. Lindsey. The author, Elizabeth Garrett, was the daughter of...
," adopted by the state legislature in 1917. In 1971, "Así es Nuevo México" was adopted as the Spanish-language state song. In 1989, the legislature adopted "Land of Enchantment" by Michael Martin Murphey
Michael Martin Murphey
Michael Martin Murphey is an American singer-songwriter best known for writing and performing Western music, Country music, and Popular music. A multiple Grammy nominee, Murphey has six gold albums, including Cowboy Songs, the first album of cowboy music to achieve gold status since Gunfighter...
as the official state ballad; and in 1995, the legislature adopted "New Mexico - Mi Lindo Nuevo México" by Pablo Mares as the state's official bilingual state song.
Country music
New Mexico's country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
heritage includes Red River
Red River, New Mexico
Red River is a resort town in Taos County, New Mexico, United States located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The population was 484 at the 2000 census.-History:...
's Michael Martin Murphey
Michael Martin Murphey
Michael Martin Murphey is an American singer-songwriter best known for writing and performing Western music, Country music, and Popular music. A multiple Grammy nominee, Murphey has six gold albums, including Cowboy Songs, the first album of cowboy music to achieve gold status since Gunfighter...
, a cowboy singer and popular local attraction, as well as the Old West town of Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas is a city in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Once two separate municipalities both named Las Vegas, west Las Vegas and east Las Vegas , divided by the Gallinas River, retain distinct characters and separate, rival school districts. The population was 14,565 at the 2000...
. The town of Clovis
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis is the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32,667 at the 2000 census; according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population had risen to 37,775....
was home to the Norman Petty Studios, where Texans Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
and Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
recorded; the town of Ruidoso
Ruidoso, New Mexico
Ruidoso is a village in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, adjacent to the Lincoln National Forest. The population was 8,029 at the 2010 census...
is home to the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium.
Music festivals
The city of Santa Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
is home to the Santa Fe International Festival of New Music , the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival is a six week long summer Festival of chamber music held annually in July and August and located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was founded in 1972 and presented its first series of concerts in 1973. Well-known musicians and young performers appear each season in...
, and the Santa Fe Opera
Santa Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe in the U.S. state of New Mexico, headquartered on a former guest ranch of .-General history:...
. Taos
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
is home to the Seventh Annual Taos Solar Music Festival.
June is the month for many festivals in New Mexico.
Besides Taos Solar Music Festival at the end of June, there is Southwest Roots Music Festival,
also called THIRSTY EAR MUSIC FESTIVAL that takes place in the middle of June just outside Santa Fe at the famous western movie set. Festival features well known artists representing the
roots of folk, blues, bluegrass, world music etc.
Perhaps the most successful of all festivals in New Mexico is GLOBALQUERQUE taking place
at the end of every September since 2005 at the wonderful Hispanic Cultural Center in
Albuquerque.
Festival features some of the best music from all continents (folk/ethno/pop) as well as some of the Native American and Hispanic acts.
Small Venues
In Las Cruces, Starbucks coffee shop is known for hosting an open mic on Friday or Sunday nights. Popular artists at these venues include the group: "Raw Material," as well as Clay King, a local guitar player, Codeword Zefferina, and Jon Paz, a local multi-instrumentalist.Red River in Northern New Mexico has a Bluesfest in early June and Larry Joe Taylor's Music Festival and Chili Cookoff featuring well-known songwriters such as Richard Leigh, Keith Sykes, Joe Ely and Michael Hearn.