Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea
The Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea is an all-female mariachi band based in Los Angeles, California. The band was founded in 1999 by Cindy Shea. In 2009, they became the first all-female mariachi band ever to be nominated for a Grammy Award, and the first to win one.[1] As of 2016, the band has been nominated for seven Grammy awards, winning twice. They are the official mariachi band of the Disneyland resort.[2] In May 2014, they headlined the opening of a new dinner theater in Anaheim, California dedicated exclusively to mariachi music.[3]
Mariachi Divas
1999–present
Early career[edit]
From a very young age, Cindy Shea aspired to become a professional musician. In an interview with the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, she said, "I told my parents when I was only 8 years old that I wanted to become one of the world's best trumpet players."[2] Wanting more lessons, and with more exclusive instructors, than her parents could finance, she began teaching lessons herself to raise the money. She ultimately studied with the likes of Ron Stout, Wayne Bergeron, Bobby Shew, Bill Bing, and Arturo Sandoval.[4] In the male-dominated mariachi music culture, Shea has encountered opposition. As an outstanding player even as a high-schooler, she was a victim of pranks and was told to give up trumpet because it was "too macho".
In the meantime, the Mariachi Divas were experiencing success as recording artists as well. In 2009, with their album Canciones De Amor, they made history as the first all-female mariachi band ever to be nominated for a Grammy award; they went on to win the award that year for Best Regional Mexican Music Album.[8][1] As of the 2017 Grammy Awards season, seven further nominations followed (Grammy Awards and Latin Grammy Awards combined):[6]
Some of the notable and featured live performances by the Mariachi Divas include:[4]
They have collaborated with other well-known artists on numerous occasions as well, including Joan Sebastian, Jenni Rivera, Marco Antonio Solis, Pablo Montero, Graciela Beltran, Paulina Rubio, and Mariachi Vargas.
Television appearances include Despierta America, Cristina, Control, Primer Impacto, Sábado Gigante, BBQ with Bobby Flay, 12 Corazones, Bienvenido a Casa, The Disney Family Singalong Volume II and A Celebration of the Music of Coco.
In May 2014, the Mariachi Divas were announced as the headline act of Centro del Mariachi, a new all-mariachi themed dinner theater two miles south of Disney resort (reclaiming the site of 2012's failed Battle of the Dance).[3]