Luis Y Julian

From Nuevo Leon, Mexico, the Garza Arredondo brothers Luis and Julián formed a charting sibling duo devoted to corrido music, active as recording and performing partners from the early 1970s onward. More than 80 albums have appeared under their name beginning in 1975.

Songwriting occupied both men from adolescence. A 1972 competition brought them first prize, after which Luis’s “Canto a la Villa” entered the official historical records of Nuevo Leon. Victory in the contest did not alter their primary goal of placing material with established vocalists. Submissions went first to Carlos y Jose, who declined the songs yet urged the brothers to commit them to tape themselves; Carlos Salazar provided the strongest encouragement. No Mexican company would sign them—Discos DLV’s refusal proved especially disheartening—so Salazar escorted the pair to Texas for their earliest singles on the Alto label, with Lupe Tijerina of Cadets de Linares supplying accordion. After those sides reached Basilio Villareal, the shrewd DLV executive recognized his earlier error and the fresh prospects the recordings represented. He offered a contract that Luis y Julián accepted.

Between 1975 and 1982 the duo completed twelve albums for DLV, then moved through an extensive roster of subsequent imprints, both independent and major: Falcón, Gas, Zarape, Joey, Viza, Ramex, DMY, Musical Sonitus, Roma, LyJ, TH-Mex, Fonovisa, and Disa. Among their enduring corrido successes stand “La Venganza de María,” “Tres Tumbas,” “Pistoleros Famosos,” “Nomas Las Mujeres Quedan,” and “Misa de Cuerpo.” Numerous Mexican films licensed their catalog, while their arena concerts across Mexico and the Southwestern United States acquired legendary status. Succeeding generations of Mexican Regional artists absorbed their influence, and even alternative corrido performers continue to revive their songs.

The twenty-first century brought U.S. chart entries; 2005’s La Mejor...Coleccion, Vol. 1 and 2011’s Corridos del Puritito Norte each reached notable positions on the Latin Albums charts. Although activity moderated somewhat after 2010, Luis y Julián sustained a steady pace of at least two albums annually. The 2016 releases Los Consentidos de Nuevo Leon and Corridos y Rancheras were joined by two compilations that year, while 2017 yielded the split albums Duelo de Leyendas and Norteñas Llegadoras, both shared with Carlos y Jose—the latter also featuring Adolfo Urias.