“The People’s Queen” Returns to Fair
By Diane Booth Conway,
Merced County Fair Publicity Director
Graciela Beltran will perform at the 2007 Merced County Fair, Sunday, July 22 in the Toyota Outdoor Theatre.
The Mexican-American artist nicknamed by her fans, “La Reina del Pueblo” which means “Queen of the People,” first appeared at the Merced County Fair in 2003.
The fair previously announced Josh Gracin, "American Idol's American Patriot," will kick off the fair's opening day, Tuesday, July 17; Bowling for Soup will play their upbeat pop/ rock/punk music, Wednesday, July 18; singer/songwriter Phil Vassar will perform Thursday, July 19 and country star Collin Raye will headline at the fair, Saturday, July 21. The remaining headline entertainment act for Friday, July 20 will soon be announced.
The fair runs July 17-22. All entertainment performing at the fairgrounds Toyota Outdoor Theatre will give one concert at 9 p.m. As always, all fair headline acts are free with the price of admission. The 2007 Fair theme is "Gateway to Great Cheese," a salute to cheese, one of the county's top agricultural products.
Beltran, one of the biggest stars of Mexican regional music, has been recording hits for two decades. Her most recent album is “Rancherisimas con Banda,” featuring Ranchero or Mexican country style music that’s characterized by the traditional Banda or brass band sound. Whether she is singing in the Banda, Rancheras or Norteno (Northern Mexico) style of music, she continues to be very popular with fans in the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
The latest album contains 12 traditional Banda tracks including “Ensename a Olvidar” by Ramiro Cavazos, a song popularized 25 years ago by Ramon Ayala. This collection is a celebration of her 20-year career, Beltran said, adding “I have put together this material with all my heart.”
Other Banda songs on Beltran’s newest album include “Pa’ Que Son Pasiones,” made famous by “La Migra,” “Laurita Garza,” a song popularized by the group Invasores de Nuevo Leon several years ago, “No Me Pregunten Por El,” which was sung by Cuco Sanchez and “Delante de Mi,” made famous by La Banda El Recodo.
“They are beautiful tracks which belong to our people, the songs which we Mexicans sing both at home and abroad,” Beltran said.
When it comes to regional Mexican music, Beltran said, “I strongly identify with the ranchero music because it’s where I come from and it’s my musical tradition. I am ranchera, Mexican, and I love our music, our folklore and above all I love being involved and rediscovering songs which are and always will be a source of pride for Mexico. Mexican music is a genuine export product and this album is a good example.”
During her musical career she has produced 20 albums and has received many international awards for her music. Beltran is one of the few young performers committed to preserving the music genre of Banda.
Her family comes from the western state of Sinaloa in Mexico, but Beltran’s mother wanted to give her children a better life and immigrated to the United States, settling in Los Angeles. That was where little Gracielita, the youngest of six children, grew up. From a very young age she showed signs of her gift for singing, starting out by entertaining the family’s neighbors.
She has received four consecutive nominations for the Latin Music ‘Lo Nuestro’ Prize in the category Best Artist of the Year in the Mexican regional genre and a Grammy nomination for Best Banda Album in 2001. Several of her albums have gone gold and platinum for official sales. In 2004, Beltran received two awards, “Microfono de Oro,” (Golden Microphone) for “Most Outstanding Young Singer in Banda Music,” from the National Association of Radio Announcers of Mexico and the “Las Palmas de Oro” (Golden Palms) award for “Best Bands Music Singer in Mexico.”
For information, call the fair office at 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Visit the 2007 Merced County Fair’s award-winning website, www.MercedCountyFair.com
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