Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga

The large Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga are an award-winning regional Mexican group from Mazatlan, Sinaloa. Banda MS’ concerts are known to feature rancheras, along with Mexican pop and classic rock, ever since they released their debut album, No Podrás, in 2004. In the immediate aftermath, the band hit the road and have never stopped. They issued singles and albums during short breaks from touring. 2008′s Escuela de Rancho hit the top of the radio charts thanks to its ubiquitous single “El Mechón.” Their long tenure with Disa Records ended with their final studio outing for the label, 2012′s Mi Razon de Ser. The grupo remained a top-tier touring ensemble and signed with Sony’s Lizos imprint. They netted their first number one with 2017′s Mejor Versión de Mí.
The Banda was founded in 2003 as a 15-member band by tuba player Sergio Lizárraga and his brother, clarinetist Alberto Lizarraga. Their original lead vocalist was a young Julion Alvarez. After a short period of playing local festivals and weddings, they were signed to Disa and gained a 16th member in vocalist Alan Manual Ramírez Salcido in 2004. The outfit earned a reputation for nearly constant touring after their debut offering No Podrás in 2004. While singles and albums kept their image current, it was Escuela de Rancho that put them in front of the vast majority of Mexico’s Regional music fans in 2008; it marked their first charting recording.
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga toured hard, playing all over the Sinaloan region and throughout Mexico. Mi Mayor Anhelo appeared in 2005, again to great radio fanfare and a slow but sure increase in sales. Their reputation as a live act grew, and they began to establish a fan base in the United States as well.
Alvarez left for a solo career in 2006, and Salcido and Oswaldo Silvas filled the space. The band didn’t completely break through commercially for several more albums, but Disa stuck with them and sales grew. 2008′s Escuela de Rancho, featuring the smash single “El Mechón,” finally sent them to the top of the radio charts and the Top Ten of Mexican Regional recordings at home. Corridos Atrevidos appeared in 2009 and featured the single “El 24”; it cemented their position in the marketplace and on tour. 2011′s Amor Enfermo peaked inside the Top 30, while the group’s final pair of recordings for Disa, 2012′s Mi Razon de Ser and 2013′s 10 Aniversario, both landed inside the Top Ten.
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga signed to Universal in late 2013 and began working with the best songwriters on the traditional Mexican music scene for their label debut. In April of 2014, the single “No Me Pidas Perdón,” the title track for their forthcoming album, was pre-released. It spent 16 weeks in the top spot on various charts. The album followed in July with similar results and in October the second single, “Háblame de Ti,” spent over 15 weeks in the Top 20. Universal released a hits collection in the spring of 2015, followed by a new live album in July and the collection 20 Corridos Bien Perrones in October, all while the group was touring and recording sessions for a new studio album. “A lo Mejor” — from the live album — charted as a single that summer, followed in the fall by an edited version of “Piensalo.” In February of 2016, a single (“Solo con Verte”) and studio date (Que Bendición) were released. Both hit the charts immediately and began to attract the public to cuts from their back catalog (off the greatest-hits record), moving them onto airplay and digital sales charts as well. La Mejor Versión de Mí followed in April of 2017, featuring songs by Espinoza Paz, Edén Muñoz, and Horacio Palencia. It peaked in the top spot at Mexican Regional Albums and at three on Top Latin Albums, while the single “Tengo Que Colgar” landed inside the Top 20 on the Latin Streaming Songs charts. The following year they won Mexican Regional Artist of the Year, Duo or Group at the Billboard Awards. Their follow-up, 2018′s studio outing Con Todas Las Fuerzas, peaked at five at Top Latin albums and spent a whopping 90 weeks on the chart. After 2019′s live En Vivo CDMX, Banda Sinaloense MS returned to the studio and issued the collaborative hit single “Que Maldicion” with Snoop Dogg in early May. It peaked inside the Top Five at streaming and went to number nine on the Mexican Regional charts. ~ Thom Jurek