La Mafia

Infobox musical artist
Name = La Mafia

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Img_capt = La Mafia's Oscar de la Rosa shaking hands with fans at a concert
Img_size =
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Label = Urbana Recording Studios
Origin = flagicon|Texas Houston, Texas, United States
Genre = Tejano
Years_active = 1980–Present
Associated_acts = Kumbia All Starz
URL = http://www.lamafia.com
Current_members = Oscar de la Rosa - vocalist
Armando (Mando) Lichtenberger Jr-accordion and keyboards
Tim Ruiz - bass
Joe Gonzales-drums
Jesus Angel - keyboards
Viktor Pacheco - guitar|

La Mafia is a four-time Grammy Award-winning musical group. It has its roots in the Northside neighborhood of Houston, Texas and has charted a course as a Latin Music band.

History

La Mafia was founded in 1980 by Oscar de la Rosa, and Armando Lichtenberger Jr. at Henry’s Night Club, a bar owned by Oscar’s family. De la Rosa, as vocalist, and Lichtenberger, as keyboardist, accordion player and the band’s producer, were joined by Tim Ruiz Jr. on bass in 1996, Joe Gonzales on drums in 2003, Jesus Angel on keyboards and vocals in 2006 and Viktor Pacheco on Guitar in 2007. The band’s original name was "Los Jovenes".

La Mafia, seeking to expand their musical horizons, began touring extensively in Mexico and Latin America beginning in the late 1980s. The practice of Hispanic-American artists performing in Mexico on a large scale was unheard of before La Mafia. Back home, La Mafia has performed in front of three record-setting crowds at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at the Houston Astrodome.

Discography

Since 1993, La Mafia has recorded each of its hits at its own Urbana Recording Studios, including the million-selling "Estas Tocando Fuego" and "Ahora y Siempre". The band has recorded 35 albums and CDs, not including dozens of compilation and greatest hits releases. La Mafia has sold over 8 million records worldwide.

Awards and recognitions

La Mafia received Grammy Awards for its CDs "Un Million De Rosas" and "En Tus Manos" and Latin Grammy Awards for its CDs "Para El Pueblo" and "Nuevamente". It also has received eight Premio Lo Nuestro Awards and 12 Tejano Music Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the latter, numerous Billboard awards and was listed in the top 10 Billboard Latin Artists for the entire decade of the 90s, ranking La Mafia as the most successful Latin artist Houston has ever produced.

Battle of the Bands

In the summer of 2008 Oscar De La Rosa leader of La Mafia challanged A.B. Quintanilla and his group Los Kumbia All Starz to a battle. A.B. Quintanilla responded by making a video saying that he accepted and that the battle would be held at Robstown, Texas on August 2, 2008. A press conference was held in San Antonio, Texas on July 30, 2008 where both groups answered questions to the fans. The two stages were set side to side and the rules were each group had to sing 3 songs in a row. The battle began as they tossed a coin to see who would sing first. Oscar called heads and heads it was, so he elected A.B. to go first. For his first 3 songs he chose 3 Tejano songs he wrote and he got his two special guest singers Elida Reyna to sing the first two and Jesse Turner of Siggno to sing the third one. Now it was La Mafia turn to sing. They started off by singing "Estas Tocando Fuego" and two more 90's Billboard hits. Now it was Kumbia All Starz second turn to sing. They begin with there lead singer DJ Kane and Ricky Rick singing the hit single "Shhh!" and two other songs. They even got the dancers from DJ Kane's group when he was a solo singer, John and JD to be with them. La Mafia then finish 3 more songs. Kumbia All Starz sang 3 more songs then A.B. asked Oscar if they could sing one more song and Oscar said okay. Ricky Rick and Melissa Jiménez got on stage to sing the hit song "Rica Y Apretadita". La Mafia ended the night off with 3 of their biggest hits and the fans were screaming for one more song so La Mafia sang one more song. At the end La Mafia was declared the winner.

Members

* Oscar De La Rosa - Vocalist
* Armando Lichtenberger Jr - Accordion, Keyboards
* Tim Ruiz - Bass
* Joe Gonzales - Drums
* Jesus Angel - Keyboards
* Viktor Pacheco - Guitar

External links

*amg | id = 11:kr6ibkj96akb | label = La Mafia
* [http://www.lamafia.com La Mafia's Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/LaMafia La Mafia's Official MySpace]
* [http://lyricwiki.org/La_Mafia#.5B.5BLa_Mafia:Para_el_Pueblo_.282004.29.7CPara_el_Pueblo_.282004.29.5D.5D La Mafia-lyrics from LyricWiki]