Ramon Ayala

Born in Monterrey, Mexico in 1945, Ramon Ayala has been a master accordionist, vocalist and songwriter for more than 40 years. He has defined norteño music with signature songs and a definitive instrumental style that have made him a superstar on both sides of the Rio Grande. As a teenager in the early 60's, he teamed up with the late bajo sexto guitarist/vocalist Cornelio Reyna to form Los Relampagos del Norte. The duo created many songs that have since been covered by countless artists in contemporary Latin music. Ayala later formed the legendary band, Ramon Ayala y sus Bravos del Norte, in 1971. In the decades that followed, Ayala created more than 105 recordings, starred in 13 movies, and garnered multiple Grammy awards and nominations, including a Grammy in 2001 for the album En Vivo… El Hombre Y Su Musica. He has also been awarded two Latin Grammys for the albums Quemame Los Ojos and El Numero Cien. Ramon Ayala's influence on modern Latin music cannot be overstated, as most norteño groups today continue to draw inspiration from Ayala's distinctive musical contributions.