See how mariachi music is giving people a sense of community and connectionin these times on "Southland Sessions" S1 E3: Mariachi - from Romance to Resistance.

Before April of this year, Los Angeles many mariachi groups were thriving. Spring is a good time for gigs and the preamble to the wedding and graduation-filled summer.

Before this, people were super happy and excited, said Joel Jacques, director ofMariachi Los Criollos de Guadalajara, but then COVID started.

Boyle Heights momentarily silent Mariachi Plaza may be the epicenter of Los Angeles' mariachi scene, but mariachi, of course, goes way back. In what is almost a study in creativity and adaptation, mariachi music was a result of the fortuitous mixing of indigenous and Spanish music starting in the 1700s, when Mexico was still under Spanish rule, primarily in Jalisco, Colima, Michoacn, Zacatecas, Guanajuato and Nayarit.

The invention and adoption of theguitarrn(meaning large guitar) the equivalent of the bass in mariachi in the 17thcentury was key in the development of mariachi musics first iteration.

Mariachi music remained in relative obscurity from the rest of the country, only finding an audience in rural and Indigenous populations. Inexplicably, aristocrats snubbed their noses at the art for almost 200 years until mariachi groups from Cocula and Tecatitln (another historic cradle of mariachi in Jalisco) made their way to Mexico City at the end of the 19thcentury and found widespread success. Mexican elites relegated it as inferior until then-president Porfirio Daz deemed a mariachi group worthy of playing at his birthday party in 1905. One can only imagine how those snotty folks felt when they realized what they had been missing.

Marachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles members Natalia Melendez, Mayra Martinez, Rodolfo Vasquez, Allen Magaa, Pablo Juarez, Leandro Orozco, Brian Espinoza, Julio Martinez and Carlos Samaniego, pose together. | Berna Choi

Since then, mariachi music has only grown in popularity. UNESCO even named it a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2011.

As Joel Jacques, director of Mariachi Los Criollos de Guadalajara, put it, "Mexican music is culture, art and feeling. There's no better way to tell a woman you love her than by serenading her, and even more with mariachi, singing some beautiful songs for her like Pedro Infante's 'Amorcito Corazn. These are very happy songs, and beautiful too!

Much was written about theplight of mariachisat the start of the stay-at-home order. One would be forgiven for thinking that in the face of such terrible odds, the mariachis at plazas, banquet halls and restaurants simply sighed, packed up their instruments and let the county go silent. But they didnt. Like their musical ancestors, the Coca people of Cocula, Jalisco, they got creative.

If we dont adapt how we do things, they disappear, Jacques said.

Like many other entertainers, some mariachi groups have gone virtual, making customized videos for clients near and far.

Carlos Samaniego, Director ofMariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles(the World's First LGBTQ Mariachi), said that although most of the events he played at normally, like weddings and quinceaeras, got canceled, many of thePrideevents he was supposed to play at have gone virtual. For example,Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles recorded a Lucha Villa potpourri for a virtual queerceaera recently.

It really has hit the mariachi industry very, very hard . [but] thats one way we have stayed employed, he said.

For Jacques, who clearly revels inplaying for people, doing virtual performances has let him bring the love and joy of mariachi music to people who are far away from their loved ones. Ive had to doserenatasfor people who ended up being long distance because of COVID, Jacques said. Even a woman from Chicago around a month ago hired me to sing to her mother virtually.

Marachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles members Natalia Melendez, Mayra Martinez, Rodolfo Vasquez, Allan Lopez-Vasquez, Valentin Tril Jr., Pablo Juarez, Brian Espinoza and Carlos Samaniego, pose together. | Courtesy of Carlos Samaniego

It's also been an important business decision. He said mariachis who don't know how to work online end up being limited in the work they can do, and unfortunately, there are a lot of people in that position, he said. "This stuff changes every day, so if you don't try to update what you do, as we Mexicans say,te comen el mandado(they eat your groceries), he said. You need to stay updated, especially regarding platforms where you can promote yourself by uploading videos.

Even though videos have been an unexpected and welcome source of income, Samaniego said they simply dont come close to how the music sounds live. Erwin Vasquez, director ofMariachi Teocuitatlan, agreed and said many audiences are simply not interested in online performances. Its just the culture. People are used to coming up to ask for a song, getting close to us, singing, Vasquez said. Thats just how it is.

Audiences looking to listen to live mariachi during this time have plenty of creative options, from curbside concerts, caravans, and even drive-in mariachi concerts.

Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles Members pose outside of a home wearingface masks at a recent graduation gig. | Courtesy of Carlos Samaniego

Of course, there are still things that continue to happen like birthdays and all these things that people have continued to celebrate have continued, but differently, Samaniego said. Now you have these [drive-by] caravans, and everything has to be done with social distancing, which is great.I believe theres some way to continue to celebrate and accomplish things like that, but its all done very differently.

Now, when there are birthdays, people are brought out to driveways and mariachis play from the sidewalk. I was lucky enough to be at a 100thbirthday near Palos Verdes, Jacques recalled. Even the fire department and police departments drove by. It was like a parade for the man. And the man was sitting in his little garden, and we were playing on the sidewalk. You see some really beautiful things."

Mariachi Los Criollos de Guadalajara play outside at a socially distanced gathering. "When we have to go to a house, we stand, and the clients sit far away. We wear the mask and only remove it to sing to you," Jacques said.

Samaniego is taking a break from playing in person for at least the next month to reduce the risk of infection and keep his clients safe. Before cases started to skyrocket again in July, he would only accept gigs that were held outside with enough room for appropriate social distancing, but he said many mariachi groups cant afford to be picky.

Vasquez said he also recently decided to stop playing in person for the remainder of the month. "As we show up, our bills are paid. If we don't show up, they're not," he said. "It's tough. We are putting ourselves in the line of danger showing up to unknown homes where there's people that we just don't know where they've been," Vasquez said. "It's been a challenge, but it's not something I can control because people are paying for the luxury of us showing up. It comes down to us risking it for the happiness of someone else. Now it's time to take ourselves into consideration before our clients to try to stay safe."

Many mariachis are still out working gigs normally, so Samaniego said keeping tabs on the mariachi community on social media is a great way for mariachis to stay informed.

Natalia Melendez and Carlos Samaniego wear face masks. | Courtesy of Carlos Samaniego

Its really helped because there are musicians who have been affected and are saying please be cautious and wear your face mask while youre at the gig. Please keep your distance, he said. Just because the clients are having fun, and theyre drinking and not wearing face masks, dont fall into that and dont go inside the apartment or house, thats not really a good idea.

Samaniego said he was extra lucky; he was able to switch to online performances thanks to money he got from a grant that was only available to American citizens, which many mariachis are not. "I got that because fortunately I am a citizen and I can apply for these grants, but there are other people in the mariachi community who aren't legal residents or who may be undocumented who can't apply for these types of things, and so they're the ones that are suffering," he said. "A lot of them have lost their cars, or they're elderly and more susceptible to the coronavirus, so they're also not the most informed on how best to avoid it."

After about three months after the stay-at-homeorder was instated and after attempts to rehearse virtually, Samaniego set up a socially distanced rehearsal with plenty of precautionary measures, like temperature checks and hand sanitizer upon entry. "I wanted to make sure that everyone was safe, and I created this environment in order for us to be safe and rehearse. It was so satisfying musically and to our souls. Just to collaborate musically again was just so nice, and it was a treat to be able to do this."

Vasquez also pointed out that most, if not all, musicians live paycheck to paycheck or per gig. "There's times that musicians are waiting for a gig just so they can eat," he said.

To aid mariachis in these situations, Jacques said fellow mariachis established theOrganizacin de Mariachis Independientes de Los Angeles California(OMILCAL)in mid-June. That organization was created to help musicians who are older and unfortunately cant go out to work because they are at a higher risk if they get infected [but] dont you think its just for mariachis. For example, here in Mariachi Plaza in L.A., there have been trucks full to distribute milk and pantry items for musicians who cant go out to work, Jacques said. A lot of families have been affected.

Joel Jacques of Mariachi Los Criollos de Guadalajara gets ready to play at Los Angeles gigs during the pandemic. | Courtesy of Joel Jacques

Jacques continued, Thank God, because of tech I have work, but people who dont have that knowledge, one way or another we need to help them because like we say in Mexico,como te ves, me v, jven una vez(as you see yourself, I saw myself, young)y como me ves, te vers(as you see me, youll see yourself). We need to be conscious of the fact that were all going to get to that age and be proactive, smart and empathetic of others.

There are many ways to help the mariachi community. Samaniego suggested donating to your favorite mariachi or to arts organizations as well as buying theirmerchandise. On our website, we sell our CDs, our posters, our t-shirts, our baseball caps, even ourmoo. People love our rainbowmoo, and now I put them up for sale on our website," he said. "We have face masks too."

Besides donating to local charities and being cautious to slow the spread of the virus, Vasquez, Jacques and Samaniego agreed that a great way to help the mariachi community is by hiring a mariachi group for a virtual or in-person performance. I want them to know that we are active and available for their events, keeping safety top of mind, Jacques said.

Samaniego said mariachi groups are also especially flexible right now. If you want to celebrate something, hire a mariachi. If you cant afford much, ask for a small group, and people are really willing to accommodate.

Vasquez said he hopes when things clear up a bit more, people will think of musicians, mariachis and entertainers and hire them more often. "We're a small business, and we're in a time that small businesses need to be supported, but it's tough to ask for help because there's really no other way people can really help us than to hire us," he said. "We hope that when things get normal, we're busy with work and can continue to make people happy."

Joel Jacques of Mariachi Los Criollos de Guadalajara gets ready to play at Los Angeles gigs during the pandemic. | Courtesy of Joel Jacques

Jacques summed it up. "It's so hard to make a living, and more so now with COVID, but we've never let ourselves fall down, and we need to lend a hand now more than ever to face the changes and adapt together. Let's stay positive that this will be solved, thank god we have life and let's enjoy it with some good mariachi music.Que viva la msica Mexicana y que viva el mariachi!

So, if youre thinking of just calling youramorcito coraznjust to say, I love you, maybe consider sending them some curbside mariachi instead.

Top Image:Joel Jacques of Mariachi Los Criollos de Guadalajara holds his guitarrn before a Los Angeles gig. | Courtesy of Joel Jacques

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How L.A.'s Mariachis Are Keeping the Music Alive and How You Can Help - KCET