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Artist
Grupo Montez de Durango
12+ albums
duranguenseAllgrupo montez de durangospanishgrupera
about
Grupo Montéz de Durango or Montéz de Durango is a Duranguense band currently based in Chicago. This group is well known in the United States, Mexico, and Central America. Although Grupo Montez de Durango's sound is deeply rooted in the music of traditional Mexican music, it is also influenced by the members' hometown of Chicago. Jose Luis Terrazas founded Grupo Montez De Durango in 1996. Terrazas, who was born in Durango, Mexico, grew up in Chicago and was a percussionist in the marching band at his high school. He hooked up with a traditional Mexican banda and learned that these groups were very popular in Chicago. The next step was the formation of his own group. The seven-member group soon became a popular draw at local dance halls. Terrazas was influenced by Tierra Caliente group La Dinastía de Tuzantla. Membership in the group includes leader Jose Luis Terrazas, Daniel Terrazas (drummer and son), Jose Luis Terrazas Jr (Hype Man) and other musicians. Besides covers of older traditional Mexican songs, the group played a faster-paced style of music: a polka-ranchera mix. This musical style became associated with the dance style called "El Pasito Duranguense" (The Durango Step) and Grupo Montez de Durango was the band most closely identified with it. Terrazas founded his own Terrazas Records label and the band began recording and releasing albums. In time, one of the major labels signed the group, but the label wanted the group to change its sound and they soon parted ways
