Remmy Valenzuela, a singer, songwriter, and accordionist who tops the charts, has captivated crowds through his skillful recordings and dynamic live performances ever since turning 15. His intricate musical structures, featuring changes in time signatures, masterful accordion technique, and led by his lively, mildly nasal tenor vocals, created a compelling mix that dominated airwaves and positioned him as a leading figure in alternative corridos and bandas. He started putting out his own music independently from 2008 onward, but achieved his initial radio and chart success with the 2013 track "Te Olvidare," which set the stage for the 2014 airplay hit "Te Tocó Perder" that reached the Top Five. During 2014, both De Alumno a Maestro and Mi Vida en Vida ascended to number one on the Latin and Regional Mexican charts, with the first also appearing on the overall charts. The fifth album, Mi Princesa from 2015, featured the single "¿Por qué Me Ilusionaste?" that crossed charts and earned recognition from critics across Latin America and the United States, such as Ben Ratliff of the New York Times, as among the year's top Latin songs. Though nominated for a Latin Grammy in the Best Norteño album category, Ariel Camacho took the award. His 2016 album Con Tololoche stayed on the charts for six weeks and reached number four.
Born in 1991 as Remigio Alejandro Valenzuela Buelna in Guasave, Sinaloa, he picked up guitar and drums at age 12, with drums holding particular importance due to the frequent time signature shifts in his compositions. As the youngest participant in the youth band Los Estudents, Valenzuela developed his vocal abilities alongside his drumming, and he was amazed enough by earning payment for his passion that he made a copy of his first musician's paycheck. At 13, he started instructing music at his city school and joined sessions with more experienced players while forming his own ensembles.
Following a move to Los Mochis, he added the accordion to his skills. While still a student, he and fellow classmates produced the independent single "Amandotes," which gained local radio play and spread regionally. Through participation in numerous local song contests and talent shows backed by radio and television, he built a following across Mexico that extended into the Southwestern United States. His accordion proficiency attained virtuoso status prior to age 20. As a composer, his talent for blending streetwise romantic subjects, style trends, celebratory motifs, and wit, along with his performance and distinctive fusion of banda, norteño, and cumbia styles, endeared him to audiences. He recorded his first album, 15 Corridos de Alto Novel, independently in 2008, succeeded by two live releases. His subsequent studio effort, Fondo Profundo, came out in 2011, then La Fiesta del Tamarindo, and Mi Vida en Vida in 2012.
By 22, Valenzuela had survived two life-threatening incidents: an initial severe car crash, and another in 2013 during a shootout between Mexican Federales and cartel gunmen, resulting in gunshot wounds to his intestines and kidney; emergency surgery preserved his life but removed one organ. After an extended recuperation, he resumed activities without hesitation, including tours, TV spots, and recordings. The video for the lead single from 2013's Te Olvidaré became popular in Mexico and attracted notice in the United States plus Central and South America. He secured a contract with Fonovisa later that year. Early in 2014, the label's debut single "Te Tocó Perder" entered the Billboard Mexican Regional Songs and Airplay charts. This preceded the June release of Alumno a Maestro, which quickly topped Billboard's Mexican Regional Albums chart. Three months afterward, the label put out Mi Vida en Vida, a collection of his romantic successes that also reached the summit. Valenzuela's momentum built rapidly. Mi Princesa arrived the next year, achieving a Top Five position on Mexican Regional Albums and Top Latin albums while earning a Latin Grammy nomination. His live shows turned into sellouts. The expanded and remastered reissue of 2010's Con Tololoche came in June 2016, climbing to number six and lingering in the Top Ten longer than prior works. The live album 10 Años Para Ti en Vivo appeared in 2017 as Valenzuela persisted with tours and media engagements. During spring 2019, he issued "Mentiras," his initial single after three years. The accompanying video accumulated millions of views, and the song placed within the Top Ten on radio and streaming charts. That same spring, Valenzuela performed onstage with singer Marc Antonio Solis during the latter's Mexican tour.
