Ranchera music originated in the central area of Mexico whose largest city is Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco. Ranchera music today is almost always accompanied by a mariachi thus making the two terms often used interchangeable. For a detailed explanation of the origins and characteristics of the mariachi, click on the Wikipedia logo above to see a good article. Below, a mariachi plays on a town square in Mexico. While this format was fairly common in the 70's through the 90's, few remain today. The most significant one is KHJ in Los Angeles, known as La Ranchera 930. Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete, both fine actors and both excellent singers of ranchera songs. Ranchera Radio Format Click on each song for a short audio sample. Ranchera music samples Problems playing clips? Intenet Explorer: make sure that your system is set to play m3u files in your preferred audio player (usually Windows Media Player) via Control Panel -> Default Programs -> m3u and select your player if not set already. Firefox: Tools -> Options -> Applications -> m3u and make sure your preferred audio player is selected. Ranchera A format based on ranchera and mariachi songs, usually covering many decades of music, sometimes back to the 50's. Because it appeals to older listeners it is almost always an AM format.   Pedro Infante - Flor sin retoño Antonio Aguilar - Triste Recuerdo Antonio Aguilar - Arboles de la barranca José Alfredo Jiménez - te solté la rienda Rocío Dúrcal - La guirnalda Javier Solis - Sombras Vicente Fernández - La ley del monte Vicente Fernández - Miedo Vicente Fernández - Por tu maldito amor Vicente Fernández - Volver, volver José Alfredo Jiménez - Te solté la rienda Juan Gabriel - Por qué me haces llorar José Alfredo Jiménez - Te solté la rienda Rocío Dúrcal - La guirnalda Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán - Camino Real de Colima Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán - La Adelita Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán - El Carretero Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán - Las Chapanecas The few remaining ranchera stations also include some norteña music such as these samples. Los Tigres del Norte - La mesa del rincón Los Tigres del Norte - La jaula de oro Ramón Ayala - Tragos Amargos Carlos y José - El chubasco Cardenales de Nuevo León - Se renta Conjunto Primavera - Ave Cautiva Los Tiranos del Norte - Hasta la miel amarga Los Rieleros del Norte - Ni el Diablo te va a querer