Music of New Mexico

Music of the United States
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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.^[1] 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.

Country music

New Mexico's country music 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.^[2]

Music festivals

The city of Santa Fe, New Mexico 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.

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.

References

• Byron, Janet (1996). Country Music Lover's Guide to the U.S.A. (1st ed. ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-14300-1. 
• "History". New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. http://www.nmso.org/About/history.php. Retrieved December 7, 2005. 

Notes

1. ^ New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
2. ^ Byron, pgs. 151 - 153

External links

• New Mexico Music Educators Association
• New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society
• New Mexico Territorial Brass Band