By Pablo Jaime Sainz
May 25, 2006

If undocumented immigrants had a soundtrack, most of the songs would certainly be corridos by Los Tigres del Norte. The first track could be “Vivan los mojados,” a tribute to the paisanos who work the fields of California.

Next could come “La jaula de oro,” about the obstacles faced by undocumented immigrants in their everyday lives. And it would surely include “El otro Mexico,” a monologue where a citizen of that nation defends his decision to immigrate to the United States.

A young Luis Hernández admired the social conscience of his older brothers, the quintet from Sinaloa known as Los Tigres del Norte. Now that Hernández, 31, is part of the group, playing the bajo sexto and doing vocals, he's happy Los Tigres continue to support immigrants, as they did on May 1 at the massive immigration protest march in Los Angeles.

“We thought that as a group that has always sung for undocumented immigrants, it was important for us to be there,” said Hernández in a phone interview from San Jose, where the band members live. “We also thought our image could be used for a good cause.”

DATEBOOK Los Tigres del Norte 8 tonight; Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula; $60 to $90; (951) 693-1819

And, he added, for some group members it's not difficult to identify with the challenges faced by the undocumented immigrants, as they themselves lived without legal documents when they started their music careers.

“Some of us have experienced the suffering faced by our people,” said Hernández.

Though the band's new release “Historias que contar” (Fonovisa, 2006) doesn't include any songs related to undocumented immigrants, Hernández said that on stage they always play corridos for their paisanos. That's why the “bosses of all bosses,” as the band is known, is getting strong airplay on local radio stations for the first single in its new release, “Señor locutor.”

DATEBOOK Los Tigres del Norte 6 p.m. Saturday; San Diego Convention Center, downtown; $40; (619) 264-8783

“Thank God, our people support us,” Hernández said.

Sergio García “El Kashashazz,” a disc jockey at 95.3 FM “La Caliente,” which broadcasts regional Mexican music to San Diego and Tijuana, said Los Tigres del Norte are an institution. Their songs are among the most played in the region, he said.

“Whatever they release, wherever they play, Los Tigres are a big hit,” said García.

For Hernández, the public's support of Los Tigres del Norte boils down to the fact that the band plays songs about issues their listeners can identify with.

“Our people get the message.”

 Pablo Jaime Sainz, a freelance writer, covers entertainment for The Union-Tribune's weekly newspaper, Enlace.

 »Next Story»