Texans Mariachi brings fiesta to NRG Stadium

HOUSTON – Shortly before halftime of a recent Texans game, Daisy Longoria joined the Houston Texans Mariachi in the north end zone to perform the Mexican classic ”Volver, Volver.”

The ranchera popularized by the late Mexican icon Vicente Fernandez captivated the sellout crowd at NRG Stadium. The crowd was so moved by Longoria’s performance, the crowd sang along loudly to the familiar song. 

The Houston Texans’ Mariachi has  become an important part of the  game-day experience at NRG Stadium, showcasing the rich cultural Latino heritage in Houston. 

‘A true honor’

“Well, it’s been amazing. My grandfather was also a mariachi,” Longoria said. “It means a lot to be in these stadiums sharing our music with all the wonderful people, and it’s a true honor to represent my music and my country.” 

After a Houston Rodeo competition in 2023, the Texans organization began to notice the mariachi. Inspired by the Rams, the Texans are only the second team in the NFL to have a mariachi band.

Start your morning with the @HoustonTexans’ mariachi.
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During their first season, the mariachi wore a black suit with a red custom Texans bow. This season, the Texans went to a tailor in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, to design a one-of-a-kind mariachi traje (suit) that blends tradition with Texans pride.

“I’ve had a lot of trajes in my life,” Longoria said, “but this one is definitely unique. And everybody loves it. I never thought I’d be wearing a Texans mariachi suit, so that’s pretty awesome.”

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Jose Longoria, a seasoned pro and third-generation mariachi, leads the mariachi. He began to play at a young age, and his experience shows. Jose Longoria strategically plans along with the mariachi to keep the high-intensity crowd pumped up. 

”But the Texans audience, they (take in) the mariachi feel because it’s energetic sometimes and it’s like country music,” Jose Longoria said. “It goes to the soul, so they feel what we feel. They may not understand what we’re saying, but they understand the feeling that we are trying to incorporate in our songs.”

Texans Mariachi represents Houston’s diversity

The mariachi has become a beloved part of the Texans’ family. The organization’s embrace of their mariachi culture has created a strong sense of belonging for its members. Jose Longoria is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the vibrant community and represent the Latino culture in the Texans’ organization. 

“Man, it’s a huge blessing, a huge opportunity for us to be a part of the mariachi de los Texans, right?,” he said. “But also, we’re part of an organization that really treats us like family.

“They’re really welcoming. They’re really just embracing the mariachi and then we’re giving them the best that we have from our culture. It just makes us feel like a family. So that’s how we feel here every time we perform here at the stadium.”

_{Photo by Darlen De León, for Our Esquina.}