About Mariachi Ameca | Chicago Mariachi Band

Jaime Cervantes singing in a white charro suit

A Name Carried from Jalisco

Founder Jaime Cervantes was born in El Pochote, a small rancho beside Ameca in Jalisco's Valles region. He spent his youth in Ameca, a community shaped by agriculture, migration, and tradition. El Pochote became his nickname in the mariachi community; Ameca became the name of the ensemble he would later build in Chicago—a lasting connection to the place that formed him.

Music ran through his father's side of the family, whose musicians performed in mariachis, norteño groups, and bandas. Jaime began with norteño instruments, while his father also introduced him to cinema. Working as a stunt double in A Man Called Horse gave him the money to buy his first accordion.

Inspired by his mariachi uncles and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, Jaime pursued the music more seriously. After arriving in Chicago, he became a sought-after accordion accompanist for well-known artists visiting the city. He later studied violin and decided to form a mariachi of his own, carrying the name of his youth forward as Mariachi Ameca.

A Tradition Shared by Family

A defining chapter began when Mariachi Ameca received the opportunity to perform as a resident ensemble at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. Jaime invited cousins and uncles to join him, strengthening the group through the same family tradition that had first inspired him in Jalisco.

During this period, Mariachi Ameca appeared in The Jackal, starring Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. The group also continued accompanying visiting artists and performing at festivals and private events, building a presence that extended well beyond its Six Flags residency.

In the final years at Six Flags, Jaime invited one of his sons—then studying violin—to perform with the group. More of his children followed. What had begun with Jaime's father, uncles, and cousins now passed to another generation, establishing the family legacy that continues within Mariachi Ameca today.

Mariachi Ameca performing at Lollapalooza

The Tradition Today

Today, Jaime's children are grown, and several continue to perform with Mariachi Ameca. Their musical studies have strengthened the group's musicianship and professionalism. The ensemble now brings together family members and close friends, preserving the warmth and trust of a family-run group as the tradition moves into a new generation.

Notable appearances have included Lollapalooza, Millennium Park, the Chicago Cubs, and Mexico's national soccer team. Jaime and two of his older sons also appeared together in a Culver's commercial. Alongside these opportunities, Mariachi Ameca continues to perform at private celebrations, where sharing Mexican culture and heritage remains at the heart of the group's work.

Each generation has brought new musical experiences and the ability to incorporate other styles when the moment calls for it. Even as the group explores those possibilities, Mariachi Ameca remains first and foremost a traditional ensemble, grounded in the classic mariachi repertoire.