Soy Mexicano: Traditional Mexican-American Music from Southern Idaho

Released in 1982 by the Idaho Commission on the Arts, Soy Mexicano serves as a significant archival project documenting the cultural vitality of the Mexican-American communities in southern Idaho. The record was produced during a period when state arts agencies were increasingly focused on identifying and preserving regional folk traditions, capturing the music that sustained families and social gatherings in the Magic Valley and surrounding agricultural regions.

The collection features performances by local artists and community groups, including Trio Recuerdos, Los Rancheritos, and the St. Mary’s Church Choir, offering a raw, unfiltered snapshot of traditional songs as they were practiced at the time. Rather than striving for commercial polish, the project prioritized ethnographic authenticity, ensuring that the diverse musical expressions—ranging from secular rancheras to sacred hymns—remained documented as a permanent part of Idaho’s multifaceted heritage.