Pepe Aguilar likes to meditate. For nearly 15 years, time permitting, he has done it first thing in the morning for at least 15 minutes. He says it’s part of his journey — along with working with a life coach — to become more present. It’s also the time when, one day in 2017, Aguilar had one of his best ideas.
In the 1960s, Aguilar’s revered musician parents — ranchera singer-songwriter, producer and actor Don Antonio Aguilar and singer-actress Flor Silvestre — pioneered Mexican folk equestrian shows that mixed concert-style sets and traditional jaripeo performances, which feature regal dancing horses and elaborate cowboy stunts. The events helped popularize ranchera in the United States, and in the midst of his meditation, Aguilar envisioned producing a modernized version of them.
After jotting down some thoughts, he excitedly called his mother to share his concept. “Ay mijito, just let me know when you’ve advanced on this idea of yours because, right now, you’ve got a long way to go,” she told him. It wasn’t quite the response he had hoped for. But Silvestre was right. Aguilar’s vision would require extraordinary effort, and he’d need the right people by his side. (Silvestre died in 2020, Don Antonio Aguilar in 2007.)
“All I wanted was to offer something different in my shows,” the 54-year-old pop, ranchera and mariachi star explains on Zoom from his Houston home. “I was touring in arenas, theaters, I was happy. But I wasn’t happy from a creative standpoint.
Read the full Billboard story here.
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Image Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson Pepe Aguilar photographed on August 7, 2022 at Jaripeo Sin Fronteras at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
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Image Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson Leonardo Aguilar during his performance at Jaripeo Sin Fronteras in Nashville.
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Image Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson Ángela Aguilar during her performance at Jaripeo Sin Fronteras in Nashville.
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Image Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson Audience members at Jaripeo Sin Fronteras in Nashville.
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Image Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson Pepe Aguilar and his dog Gordo.
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Image Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson The horses backstage.
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Image Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson Antonio Aguilar Jr. backstage at Jaripeo Sin Fronteras in Nashville.
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Image Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson Pepe gives son Leonardo a hug after their performance together.
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Image Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson Pepe Aguilar during his performance at Jaripeo Sin Fronteras in Nashville.