La Mafia with founding members Oscar De La Rosa & Armando Lichtenberger Jr. started up in Houston in the early 1980s, and for more than three decades and thirty seven albums has become one of the largest and most critically-acclaimed names in Latin Music. Since the beginning, La Mafia has gained admirers worldwide thanks to a blend of Oscar De La Rosa's passionate singing and Armando Lichtenberger Jr.'s polished productions. The high level stage energy of band members David De La Garza with his famous Roland keytar, Tim Ruiz’s jazz influenced bass solos , rock solid drumming from Joe Gonzales and a touch of Rockero with guitarist Viktor Pacheco La Mafia is always a show to remember. La Mafia also set a precedent in the world of music by being one of the first Mexican-American groups to tour the US, Mexico, and Central / South America , allowing them to vastly expand their base of fans over the whole of the North American continent. Over the years, La Mafia has been praised for its versatility and willingness to explore a wide variety of styles, often blending rock, folk, reggae, and pop with traditional Latin music.
Thanks to this matchless talent and the adoration of their listeners, La Mafia has been able to become a household name to generations of music lovers. Their first international release was Estas Tocando Fuego on CBS International / Sony Records in 1991, which has sold more than 1 million copies. 1993's Ahora y Siempre was certified triple platinum by the RIAA. La Mafia currently boasts 13 Top-10 hits and four No. 1 songs. During the course of their career, La Mafia has been the winner of two Grammys and two Latin Grammys, with an additional 9 Grammy / Latin Grammy nominations. The most recent of these nominations was for 2009's Eternamente Romanticos. Among other awards and acclaim, Billboard has recognized La Mafia as one of the Top 25 Latin Artists of the last 25 years. The group continues to tour and is currently recording a new album, which is slated to be released in the Fall of 2012.
LA MAFIA
Oscar De La Rosa (lead vocalist)
Armando Lichtenberger Jr. (keyboards, accordion)
David De La Garza (keyboards, vocals)
Tim Ruiz, (bass guitar)
Joe Gonzales (drums)
Viktor Pacheco (guitar)
GRAMMYS
1995 Grammy Nomination - VIDA “Best Pop Album”
1996 Grammy Nomination - Exitos En Vivo “Best Mexican-American Performance”
1997 Grammy WINNER - Un Millon De Rosas “Best Mexican-American Performance”
1998 Grammy WINNER - En Tus Manos “Best Mexican-American Performance”
1999 Grammy Nomination - Euforia “Best Mexican-American Performance”
2000 Grammy Nomination – Momentos “Best Mexican-American Performance”
2000 Latin Grammy Nomination – Momentos “Best Album Grupero”
2001 Latin Grammy Nomination – Contigo “Best Album Grupero”
2002 Grammy Nomination – Contigo “Best Mexican-American Performance”
2002 Latin Grammy Nomination – Inconfundible “Best Tejano Album”
2005 Latin Grammy WINNER – Para El Pueblo “Best Album Grupero”
2006 Latin Grammy WINNER – Nuevamente “Best Tejano Album”
2009 Latin Grammy Nomination – Eternamente Romanticos "Best Album Grupero”
HIGHLIGHTS
Recently named by BILLBOARD as one of the top 25 Latin Artists of the past 25 years
Lifetime Achievement Award by the TEJANO MUSIC AWARDS
4 Number 1 BILLBOARD hits
13 Top Ten BILLBOARD hits
8 Premio Lo Nuestro
12 Tejano Music Awards
Multiple Platinum & Gold albums
Extensive tours throughout the USA –Mexico –Central & South America
Multiple USO TOURS to Germany –Kosovo – Sarajevo – The Netherlands