La Diferenzia

Based in San Antonio, Texas, the Tejano ensemble La Diferenzia featured vocalist Ricardo Castillon, accordionist Simon Arausa, guitarist Adam Vargas, keyboardists Arnold Cardenas and Ross Villapando, bassist Mike Macias, and drummer Jose Luis Benavides. Castillon and his brother Ramiro launched the unit in the mid-1980s, yet it dissolved after Ramiro’s fatal car crash; surviving member Castillon later revived the lineup following a partnership with songwriter Miguel Spindola. The group’s self-titled debut arrived in 1994 on the Arista Latin imprint, where the singles “Si Lo Quieres” and “Linda Chaparrita” both reached the top of the Latin charts and the album earned platinum certification. Another chart-topper, “Tu No Tienes Corazon,” appeared on the 1996 album Fue Mucho Mas Que Amor, and La Diferenzia issued Canta Conmigo in 1997.