Born, developed, or enjoyed in zones of frequent migration, border music has always been shaped by the intermingling of cultures and identities. Celestino Fernandez will relate the fascinating histories of musical genres performed in the Mexico-U.S. border region, including norteño, corridos, and mariachi, helping us see and hear the border in a new light. His talk will also incorporate a live corrido singer and a local mariachi band!

Celestino Fernandez is a professor emeritus of the UA Department of Sociology. His celebrated work on the history and cultural meanings of corridos, mariachi, and other folk music traditions in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands gives keen insight into how music and lyrical poetry are used to tell both personal and collective stories, particularly touching on the cultural and economic impacts of immigration.