Maria The Mexican is Americana Soul & Mexicana Groove delivered in English and Spanish with a host of emotion…

Influenced by traditional Mariachi music, Maria The Mexican is a hybrid of Mexican folklore and Rock. For ten years, Teresa and Maria Elena Cuevas performed with Mariachi Estrella founded by their grandmother Teresa Cuevas in 1970. As one of the first all female mariachi bands in the country, Maria Teresa Alonzo Cuevas is a pioneer in the Hispanic musical community. Her band flourished in the 80s but was struck by tragedy when four of the seven members were killed in the Hyatt Skywalk collapse in 1981. Once Teresa recovered she began teaching her grandchildren Mariachi music.

In 2000, Teresa and Maria began exploring other genres of music while simultaneously co-directing Mariachi Estrella. Today the fusion of Maria The Mexican is mixed with a touch of blues, soul, funk, and rock n’ roll enhanced by the musical knowledge and sounds of Garrett Nordstrom. With a southwestern flare and melancholy motifs, Maria The Mexican rocks it out in Spanish and English with a host of emotion.

Named after her grandmother, Teresa (Tess) Cuevas is the brunette beauty behind Maria the Mexican. Her soulful violin riffs and seductive voice ring out with emotion on the album. Tess is a classically trained violinist and vocalist. She also began her career as a musician at the age of 11 playing the violin and singing in her grandmother’s mariachi band Mariachi Estrella. Today the traditional mariachi tones still ring out in the Americana/Mexicana mezcla of Maria the Mexican, and Teresa’s Mexican roots emanate while performing.

Tess graduated from the University of Kansas with a BA in Communication Studies with a minor in Latin American studies. Following the completion of her degree she traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where she lived for six months to practice Spanish. Following a three-year stay in Chicago, she relocated to Kansas City to form Maria the Mexican.

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