Los Relámpagos del Norte

A seminal norteño-conjunto act, Los Relámpagos del Norte (literally "The Lightning from the North") set new standards of songcraft and technique, the latter through the astonishingly inventive playing of Ramón Ayala. They brought norteño music into the mainstream, and they did it while maintaining and even intensifying an essential "cantina" loneliness. The breadth of Los Relámpagos' influence can be found on any of their many recordings. Cornelio Reyna was born on September 16, 1940, in Coahuila. A bricklayer by trade, he was deeply involved with music by the age of 16. Seve...