Don’t Forget Lara

Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez states that Jose Alfredo Jimenez “is the most famous and beloved singer-songwriter Mexico has ever known” (“Mining the Mariachi King,” Feb. 19). Really?

Valdes-Rodriguez seems to have forgotten that Jimenez represents only one genre of Mexican music. As a daughter of Mexican parents, my earliest memories are not of ranchera / folkloric music. I was raised on the music and voice of Agustin Lara, who was around decades before Jimenez and is revered by Mexicans on both sides of the border.

Lara not only interpreted his compositions, but also accompanied himself on piano. He was a master of haunting elegant romantic ballads and a creator of some of the most spirited pasodobles ever written. Lara has been immortalized the world over with such songs as “You Belong to My Heart” (Solamente Una Vez). Many artists have recorded Lara’s songs, including Julio Iglesias and at least two CDs by Placido Domingo.

My heart swells with pride each and every time I hear Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras get together as the Three Tenors and take turns crooning one of Lara’s most famous compositions, “Granada.” Need I say more?

ELIZABETH CASILLAS

Los Angeles

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Valdes-Rodriguez attributes the song “Tu, solo tu” to Jose Alfredo Jimenez, but it was written by Felipe Valdes Leal. My mother was a singer in the ‘40s and worked with him.

Linda Ronstadt recorded her two albums with mariachi ensembles long before Selena recorded some of the same songs. Ronstadt is also responsible in large part for the renewed interest in mariachi music in recent years as well as for the female revolution in the mariachi world.

Because I feel such a reverence toward Maestro Jimenez’s music, it is such a shame that this new tribute recording does such a disservice to his music and memory. Yes, exploitation is the word.

MYRNA ANDREA DIAZ

Pico Rivera