Los Cadetes de Linares

Los Cadetes de Linares are a Mexican band famously known for their corridos, traditional ballad-style songs about multiple topics like social causes, criminals or heroes in the northern part of Mexico. They are a conjunto—also known as a norteño group—and their accordion and bajo sexto waltzes are well known in both Mexico and the Southwest. They are known also because of their appearances in classic Mexican films and countless appearances on nationally syndicated programs in Mexico and the United States.

How Cadetes de Linares were born

This band was formed in 1960 in the city of Linares (Nuevo León) by Homero Guerrero. The idea of the name "Cadetes" was due to the fact that, as a little boy, Guerrero's dream was to attend a military academy. However, because of the economic problems that his family was undergoing, he decided to devote himself to music. He began playing a guitar, singing at family parties, festivals, schools and in the main square of Linares, Nuevo León.

In 1961 he included an accordionist by the name of Adan Moreno. The group was baptized the Accordion and Bajo Sexto. They began playing all around the city of Linares. Because Homero and Adan were both from Linares, the locals gave them the name Los Cadetes de Linares.

In 1967 Adan Moreno left the band due to disagreements with the group. In 1968 Samuel Zapata entered as the Second Accordionist for Los Cadetes de Linares. Homero and Samuel recorded their first Recording for Discos del Valle, a record company from Houston, Texas. They had their first singles as "Sácame, Sácame," "El Ranchero," "El Rogón," "Estoy Pagando," "Quiero Que Sepas" and others. Due to family issues Samuel Zapata was forced to leave the group in 1968.

By late 1968 Candelario Villareal entered as the third accordionist for Cadetes de Linares. Homero and Candelario made local performances throughout Monterrey, Linares, and southern Texas

Before Lupe Tijerina joined the group, Homero Guerrero and Samuel Zapata had made a recording in the company of Discos del Valle. That was the start of Cadetes de Linares; however, they still remained a local group.

When Homero Guerrero first heard Lupe Tijerina, he immediately incorporated him to the band. They both discussed new recordings. Homero Guerrero accepted Lupe's proposals and they made a recording in 1974 with a corrido composed by Lupe Tijerina by the name of "Los Dos Amigos". This was the beginning of a whole new chapter for Los Cadetes de Linares. They began touring most of Mexico and the southwestern United States, as well as places such as Chicago and Los Angeles with large Mexican communities. They became a huge success. Lupe Tijerina gave Cadetes de Linares the style it needed to hit rankings on top of the charts.

With a one of a kind style to play their songs and with their greatest hits being played on the radio, they were on top of the world. With new hits on the way like: "Dos Coronas a mi Madre," "Las Tres Tumbas," "Pueblito," "Regalo de Reyes," "Polvo Maldito," etc. Homero Guerrero and Lupe Tijerina became instant classics.

Their great success and triumph would soon come to an end. On February 19, 1982 Homero Guerrero died in a car accident on the road from Monterrey to Reynosa. This struck the music world and his family. He had three brothers, Benjamin, Alfredo and Juan who were not musically involved at the time of his death. He also had seven sisters, Gloria Esperanza, Maria Esther, Maria Guadalupe, Ruth Elizabeth, Blanca Oralia, Blanca Estela and Irma Yolanda. Thousands of people attended the long funeral. The Music Industry was in shock to believe that one of the all time best musicians who was a very good Bajo Sexto player who had such an amazing voice is now gone, leaving Lupe Tijerina as the only survivor left of Cadetes de Linares. Friends and Family gathered to say their last good bye to Homero Guerrero. Another artist that is related to Homero Guerrero is Los Estrellas de Oro, Eliberto Contreras and Bernardo Contreras, both sons of Blanca Oralia.

Cadetes de Linares continued

After Homero Guerrero's death, Ernesto Baez took his place in the group. Lupe Tijerina had success with Cadetes de Linares in that same year due to his bolero called "Adiós Amigo Del Alma". Tijerina had thoughts of never playing again in honor of his longlife partner, but the people simply refused to let go of Cadetes de Linares. This motivated Lupe to pick up his famous accordion once again. After the original dummer for the Cadetes de Linares took over as the primary voice and guitar player, Ernesto Baez and Lupe Tijerina played sold out stadiums and appeared on Simpre en Domingo and the Johnny Cannales Show. Ernesto Baez was Homero's favorite and it only seemed fitting for Ernesto to step up and play alongside Lupe. Homero, Lupe and Ernesto also appeared in several movies

Many are under the impression that Lupe Tijerina and Rosendo Cantu are the only original band members still performing, but the truth is that Rosendo was not an original band member. As a matter of fact, Rosendo didn't join until Ernesto who had been with Homero from the beginning left the band in 2006, and it was then that Lupe ask Rosendo to join.

After their break up in the 2007, Rosendo seeing that Los Cadetes de Linares's contract had ended with RAMEX Records, Rosendo applied and bought the rights to legally perform as the authentic Cadetes de Linares. Lupe, who actually brought in Rosendo, had now lost the name that he and Homero worked so hard to form. They both headed different directions, forming each their own band.

A variety of musical groups that started years after Homero's death have been influenced by the style of original members Homero Guerrero and Lupe Tijerina

Famous songs

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