Current Issue | Home | Back Issues | Other Mel Bay Sites | Purchase Mandolin Products
Latin Mandolin | Tom Billy's Jig | Bacon and Bread
Interview with Hans Brentrup | St. Anne's Reel - The Harmony Part
Jazz Mandology |  Building A Traditional Tune Repertoire |  Klezmer 101

Latin Mandolin

by Sergio Lara

"Alla en el Rancho Grande"

This well-known song with a catchy melody, about country life, was comparable to Roy Roger's Happy Trails. More significantly, Allá en el Rancho Grande is credited with starting the singing-charro genre in Mexican cinema, mirroring the singing-cowboy craze in American films by stars such as Rogers and Gene Autry in the 1930's and 40's.

This tune is in 2/4 time, played fast and with the mandolin sound it can be as close to what I would call "Mexican Bluegrass" as we could get.

It was performed by many well known singers including Elvis, Bing Crosby and Roy Rogers & Dale Evans with their South of the Border tradition.

My version of "Alla en el Rancho Grande" can be heard on "Entre Guitarras & Mandolinas" (Fusion Acustica Music 002-2005) my soon to be released all instrumental new recording of traditional Mexican and American Folk tunes.

---

About Sergio Lara

Sergio Lara plays a 1980 Gibson F-5L mandolin, uses Gibson Monel Steel strings and the round side of a Fender Heavy pick. For over 20 years, Sergio has been respected and considered as one of the best artists in acoustic contemporary instrumental music. His last recording with the well-known Latin guitar duo Lara & Reyes, "World Jazz", received a Latin Grammy Award nomination for Best Instrumental Pop Album in 2001. His music belongs to what is known as Latin Jazz and Flamenco Jazz, which falls under the category of Contemporary Instrumental Music and World Music.

Please visit www.sergiolara.com and you can contact me for your questions and comments.