Maya Y Cantú

Jesus Maya, performing on bajo sexto and vocals, joined forces with Timoteo Cantu, who played accordion and sang, to create the duo Maya y Cantu. They stand out as likely the earliest popular pair to present Norteno music along the Texas-Mexico border. During the late '40s they appeared regularly on the Mexican radio station XEDF and cut sides for the Texas-based Ideal label. A later Arhoolie compilation gathers those 1946-49 tracks, which featured canciones and corridos built around close vocal harmonies in the manner now identified with Mexican border ranchera music.

The partnership dissolved after Jesus Maya proposed adding his brother Carmel for duet vocals and reducing Cantu’s role to accordion alone, an arrangement that would have split earnings among more participants. Cantu departed once he compelled Maya to decide between retaining him or bringing in the sibling. In the mid-'50s Cantu passed away, having performed afterward with Jesus Villa. The Maya brothers then established Los Hermanos Maya, an ensemble that continued performing and recording into the '70s.