SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 4

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Michael Padilla

 

 

 

 

 

A JOINT MEMORIAL

URGING SUPPORT FOR MARIACHI SPECTACULAR DE ALBUQUERQUE'S EFFORTS IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL MARIACHI MUSIC HALL OF FAME IN ALBUQUERQUE.

 

     WHEREAS, mariachi music, considered Mexico's most symbolic musical genre for nearly a century, extends far beyond national borders and has a worldwide following; and

     WHEREAS, while mariachis have long been a popular source of entertainment at all types of events and social gatherings, in recent decades mariachi concerts and festivals have increased greatly in popularity, particularly in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, mariachi music has a rich history, and in 2011, the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organization added mariachi music to its list of intangible cultural heritages in need of preservation; and

     WHEREAS, in the United States, mariachi music represents an important symbol of cultural identity and provides an essential form of entertainment for audiences of many generations and socioeconomic levels; and

     WHEREAS, mariachi spectacular de Albuquerque, a nonprofit corporation, has hosted a conference and concert series in Albuquerque for more than thirty years and is considered the preeminent and most successful series of its type in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, over the years, mariachi spectacular de Albuquerque has strived to add elements to the program that differentiate it from the competition; and

     WHEREAS, one of those elements added more than two decades ago was a mariachi music hall of fame, a component within the mariachi spectacular de Albuquerque conference and concert series; and

     WHEREAS, without a physical site, the organization's founders created a virtual mariachi music hall of fame, and today mariachi spectacular de Albuquerque possesses the only designated hall of fame in the mariachi music genre in the world; and

     WHEREAS, over the years, the mariachi spectacular de Albuquerque organization has accumulated trajes, sombreros, instruments, musical scores, inductee portraits and much more; and 

     WHEREAS, mariachi spectacular de Albuquerque also networks with mariachi historians, professional musicians, music arrangers and headlining performers and has access to memorabilia to create an authentic and interesting presentation of the music genre; and

     WHEREAS, what is lacking is a physical space to house and exhibit all of the music memorabilia; and

     WHEREAS, there is a need to build and operate a physical facility that would take advantage of the opportunity already held by mariachi spectacular de Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, Albuquerque and New Mexico are perfectly suited and positioned to take advantage of this opportunity, offering another cultural destination point to help New Mexico's economy and to brand New Mexico as a great place of cultural interest; and

     WHEREAS, as a draw for out-of-state tourists, the rock and roll hall of fame in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Nashville, Tennessee, country music hall of fame and museum have had exceptional success both economically and with creating awareness of these cities as cultural locations for music; and

     WHEREAS, the interest in mariachi music crosses ethnicities and generations, making it a music form in which people of all types and ages are beginning to explore and develop interest; and

     WHEREAS, the United States Hispanic population is expected to double by 2060, and an interest in mariachi music can be expected to continue;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that an international mariachi music hall of fame presents a huge benefit, both culturally and financially, to New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that mariachi spectacular de Albuquerque's efforts in the planning and development of an international mariachi music hall of fame in Albuquerque be supported; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that mariachi spectacular de Albuquerque be encouraged to collaborate with the city of Albuquerque, Bernalillo county, the tourism department, the economic development department and other interested parties in the planning and development of an international mariachi music hall of fame in Albuquerque; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the board members and management of mariachi spectacular de Albuquerque, the mayor of the city of Albuquerque, the manager of Bernalillo county, the secretary of tourism and the secretary of economic development.

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