Ranchera José Alfredo Jiménez, Lola Beltrán, Lucha Villa, Pedro Infante, Rocío Dúrcal, Vicente Fernández, and presently: Pedro Fernández and Pepe Aguilar. The word "ranchera" was derived from the word "rancho" because the songs originated on the ranches and in the countryside of rural Mexico. Rancheras that have been adapted by "conjuntos", or norteño bands from northern Mexico and the southwestern US, are sometimes called "norteños", from the Spanish word for "northern". Ranchera singers often wear "charro" outfits which indicates a cowboy suit with tight pants, a short jacket, a bow and riding boots. Mariachi bands, which are the music source behind
Mariachi of Mexican society in the early 20th century. This would change in the latter half of the 20th century, but the music remains strongly associated with tequila. Mariachi music and musician became more professional with more formal training starting in the late 1940s and early 1950s, principally due to the success of a major Mariachi by the name of Mariachi Vargas. Their appearance in many films, backing many singing stars and their hiring of a formal musician prompted other mariachis to do the same. The group also expanded adding trumpets, violins and even a classical guitar to become a kind