Isaias Gonzales (center) and Fenix group members Angel Gonzales and Jose Hernandez
The Luis Jimenez Radio show, which broadcasts out of the Univision headquarters in Manhattan on 96.3 F.M. rarely plays Mexican music. Its audience, like its staff, is mostly Puerto Rican and Dominican, so the show sticks to salsa, bachata and reggaeton.
Jimenez seems to enjoy Cinco de Mayo, however. And his co-hosts are intent on marking the occasion with Mexican mariachi gritos, or shouts, almost every time they go on air. In the early hours of the morning, they make prank calls to unsuspecting callers who are awoken to the tune of mariachi music.
“I hate you,” says a groggy recipient after she’s been hit for the third time.
During one of the commercial breaks, co-host Speedy puts on a black sombrero, he dons a fake mustache and a mariachi coat. Speedy places a pillow under his shirt that makes him look like a cartoonish Mexican cowboy.
Meanwhile, musician Isaias Gonzales waits for his turn to play some song snippets with his Mexican music band, Grupo Fenix.
A resident of Riverdale, Gonzales does not miss an opportunity to promote his group’s work. So in-between performances at Mexican clubs throughout the city, he tries to fit in radio and TV appearances.
“We want people to get to know us little by little,” he said after playing live for the popular show.
The appearance was brief. But Gonzalez managed to mention his upcoming CD called Quiereme (Love Me). He played parts of two folksy songs that are popular with rural Mexicans and also performed a bachata song, which he wrote himself.
“We have a lot of Dominican friends who listen to our Mexican music.” Gonzales said. “And for a long time they have been asking us when we would record something for them.”