Back then, the record label had called them “obsolete.” A rondalla, they said—just voices and guitars—was dead. They pressed only two thousand cassettes. Most were sold at Sunday flea markets.

While norteño music is often associated with the accordion and upbeat polkas, La Rondalla de Saltillo proved that the north also had a softer, more lyrical side. They bridged the gap between the rough-and-tumble image of the northern cowboy and the refined sensibilities of the romantic poet.

La Rondalla de Saltillo has made substantial contributions to Mexican music. Their work often features: