Ernesto De La Cruz…Is Coco’s Infamous Singing Superstar For Real?

Posted on August 21, 2019May 25, 2022 by Allison Nevins

Ernesto de la Cruz in the Coco movie with Miguel.

Ernesto De La Cruz stole my heart the first time I saw his big, sexy, latino, animated self in Pixar and Disney’s movie, Coco. I was preparing to move back to México from Texas when I saw the trailer for this cinematic masterpiece about my adopted homeland.

The bright-eyed boy Miguel, his dog Dante with his tongue hanging out and the sounds of mariachi music made me look VERY forward to seeing the show with my nephew (great excuse to watch a kid’s film)!

Sweet baby Jesus!! That music and scenery gave me chills! To the point of nearly dropping everything and moving to México that very second. If the trailer was that good, I couldn’t wait to see the fucking movie. “The music is in me!”

Disney and Pixar present…Miguel and Dante!

Coco was released in the US on November 22nd, 2017…four months before I was moving back to México. I’m continually looking for inspiration to build the TexMex Fun Stuff brand and to help me refine my product offerings in the US. As luck would have it, the timing of this movie was equally as magical.

For those of you reading this who have yet to see Coco, from the bottom of my corazón…please stop reading this post and go stream it right now! THEN let me know your thoughts via comments here or on our FaceBook page!

“When life gets me down, I play my guitar. The rest of the world may follow the rules, but I have to follow my heart” – Ernesto De La Cruz

Quick breakdown: The story follows a very young aspiring musician, Miguel, who is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead and where he must find his deceased, musical genius great-great-grandfather to help him return to his family among the Living WHILE reversing his family’s ban on music AND within a limited time to escape before he disappears! Heavy drama! Massive action! Dead people!

After living in México for 5 years previously, I felt that the movie encapsulated everything colorful, cultural and mystic about México…the customs, food, sounds, family traditions, street dogs, papel picado flags, piñatas, music and the Day of the Dead (blog post on that in October)!

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Attention to the finest details throughout the movie makes me want to watch it over and over to catch gems that I missed. I mean seriously, check this cute photo of Miguel teaching himself to play the guitar by watching Ernesto De La Cruz movies! The skull head of that guitar is straight outta Day of the Dead. Chinga!

Miquel Rivera in Coco — Look at those big sweet eyes! Miguel Rivera learning to play the guitar | Photo: Vix

So who is Miguel’s great-great-grandfather who must save the day? None other than the dearly departed, world-renowned, muy famoso, Ernesto De La Cruz…or is it? EDLC (as I will call him) was from Miguel’s hometown and had been a very famous singer, musician and actor who starred in many “Charro” films. Sadly, EDLC was crushed to death by a giant bell at a very early age. Yes, a giant fucking bell. Miguel admires his music and emulates him in secret (ancestral ban on music-long story).

I’m still a bit behind when it comes to Mexican musicians, dead or alive, but I’m trying to get my shit together. I was wondering throughout the movie, “Is Ernesto De La Cruz based on a real Mexican icon or just a made up character from the genius minds of the Pixar people?” EDLC was larger than life (even in death) like Elvis and Frank Sinatra. Plus, he rocks the feathery smooth voice like a mariachi boss so I figured he had to be real. Right?

“For even if I’m far away, I hold you in my heart / I sing a secret song to you, each night we are apart.” – “Remember Me” -Best Original Song from Coco

Doing a Google Search for ‘Is Ernesto De La Cruz…’ comes up with the auto suggestions of: ‘Is Ernesto De La Cruz real’, ‘Is Ernesto De La Cruz based on Elvis’, ‘Is Ernesto De La Cruz a father’ and ‘Is Ernesto De La Cruz based on Vicente Fernandez.’

I thought, “Screw Google. I’m gonna research the real-life person who played the animated character, Benjamin Bratt to see who his muse was for this character!” I have always felt is super hot, so why the hell not?!

Benjamin Bratt, in all of his hotness, nailed the role of Ernesto De La Cruz

Bratt relied on his roots as a Peruvian-American to embody this macho Mexican singing icon. His mother, Eldy, was a nurse and activist (badass) from Lima, Peru and was a member of the indigenous Quechua tribe. His father, Peter Bratt Sr., was an American sheet metal worker whose father, George Cleveland Bratt, was a Broadway actor. So there’s the connection – Like grandfather, like grandson!

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To prepare for the role of La Cruz, Bratt studied the “Charro” films from the ‘Golden Era of Mexican Cinema’. From these he drew from 3 different and incredibly talented Ranchera singers/actors that were handsome, suave and charismatic. Together these men gave him the template to portray Ernesto De La Cruz. Without any prior singing experience, Bratt voiced the character and sang the Oscar winning title song of the movie, “Remember Me”. #impressive #hotandtalented

Benjamin Bratt singing “Remember Me” | Credit: DisneyMusicVEVO

I’m still trying to figure out the subtle differences between Ranchera Music and Mariachi Music, but in any case, they both involve big sombreros, booming voices and costumes that are works of art. 100% Bad Ass-ery! To prove it, see my post on Mariachis here. So when I looked up the difference between Ranchera and Mariachi music styles/genres/what have you…WikiDiff.com had this to say…

As nouns the difference between Mariachi and Ranchera is that Mariachi is a traditional form of Mexican music, either sung or purely instrumental while ranchera is a traditional Mexican song performed solo with a guitar.

Other sources say that Ranchera is one form of Mariachi. It’s a little confusing, but both were represented PLENTY during the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema from the 1930s to the 1950s. This genre of movies… “Charro“…were extremely popular. These films featured movie stars such as Tito Guízar, Jorge Negrete, José Alfredo Jiménez and Pedro Infante, who would often sing Mariachi songs to their leading ladies.

Drum roll please…so who were those 3 actors/singers that Mr. Bratt embodied? CHECK IT!!!

1. Pedro Infante, hailed as one of the greatest actors of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema.

Pedro Infante, quintessential Mexican idol | Photo: México Desconocido

Pedro Infante is considered to be one of the best Ranchera Singers and idols throughout México and Latin America. His full name was Pedro Infante CRUZ. #NotSoSubtle

What I like about him is that he was always surrounded by mariachis in his movies and was constantly singing, drunk and on the verge of breaking down and crying. Like me on any given day of the week. I make a fraction less noise, but I certainly draw the same size crowds. #AttentionSeekingBehavior

Ole Pedro recorded over 350 songs and starred in over 60 films, 30 of which with his brother, Ángel Infante. His most critically acclaimed movie, “Tizoc” won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film in 1958. The Golden Globe can be seen at the Pedro Infante museum on a tiny island called Isla Arena in Campeche, México. #BeenThere

#Proof …Actually I come to find out there is another museum in México City AND in Mazatlan! | Photo: Melody McNiece

Pedro also had a fascination with aviation and had converted a Bomber war plane into a cargo plane in San Diego. He was learning to be a pilot and was co-piloting this plane when the engine failed shortly after takeoff in my adopted hometown of Mérida, Yucatan. The plane was headed to México City, but crashed 5 minutes after taking off and he died at the age of 39 – April 15th, 1957. Sad day in México.

BUT some people think his death was faked since his body was “burned beyond all recognition” in the crash. Authorities were never able to positively identify his remains and adding to this mystery, a man was spotted in Veracruz in the 1980’s that went by the name Antonio Pedro who closely resembled Infante. Fans wanted to believe conspiracy theories that Infante was still alive, however a bracelet of Pedro’s was found near the crash sight which more or less settled that. #Asgoodasdead

2. Jorge Negrete, Opera Singer, Actor and Military Veteran

Jorge Negrete, “The Singing Charro” | Photo: Inicio – Más México

Jorge Negrete was born in one of my favorite cities in México and which many scenes in Coco strongly resemble…Guanajuato City, Guanajuato. The papel picado draped above the winding streets and colorful callejones in the make believe cities of Santa Cecilia and Land of the Dead is a beautiful intersection of animated nostalgia and this real-life city full of Mexican pageantry. #Guanajuato

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Negrete was a brilliant, but rebellious teenager which caused his father to enroll him in El Colegio Militar, a military academy, where (of all freaking things) he fell in love with music. Negrete graduated from the academy with a developed gallant presence that served him well as a leading man in films and a booming star on stage.

As fabulous as he was militarily speaking, he LOVED singing and had an astounding voice. So when he met José Pierson, a prestigious singing professor, he started seriously studying music. Pierson became fascinated with Negrete’s voice and got him on the radio. He also helped Negrete develop his talent for Opera which led him to become well known in the United States. He went on to star in over 40 films from 1937 to 1953 and helped found the Mexican Actors Association.

Infante and Negrete in the first and last film they did together titled, “Dos Tipos de Cuidado” 1953 | Photo: El Universal

Randomly, Negrete died at CEDARS-SINAÍ Hospital in 1953 at the age of 42 while on a business trip in LA, CA from complications of cirrhosis. There was a faux public rivalry between Negrete and Infante since their careers paralleled, but privately they were close friends right up to Negrete’s death. Some historians say that Negrete’s death actually helped Infante’s career since he was no longer in Negrete’s shadow. Both men died very young and in their prime…kinda like EDLC!

“Hey Negrete, Infante! Want to see my great-great grandson?” | Photo: Words of the Whirl Wind

MOVIE SPOILER ALERT***Both Infante and Negrete make brief dead cameos in Coco when Ernesto De La Cruz comes up to talk with them at his party in the Land of the Dead.***

3. Vicente Fernández, the King of Ranchera Music

Vicente Fernandez Ranchera singer. — Vicente belting it out! #sombrero | Photo: Sony Music México

Vicente Fernández, nicknamed “El Rey de la Música Ranchera” (The King of Ranchera Music) is a retired actor, singer and movie producer. He grew up in Guadalajara, Jalisco and was inspired to be a singer while watching Pedro Infante movies as a young boy. #parallels

“When I was 6 or 7, I would go see Pedro Infante’s movies, and I would tell my mother, ‘When I grow up, I’ll be like him.'” – Vicente Fernández

He went on to record over 50 albums and would always perform wearing a traditional Mexican charro suit, which of course included a massive felt sombrero. He also contributed to over 30 films between 1965 and 2016. He retired from performing live in 2016, but definitely went out in style. #Notdeadjustretired

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To a sold out crowd at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium in April, 2016 he stopped his concert to address the then-US presidential candidate…

“There’s a U.S. presidential candidate that’s saying a lot of ugly things about Mexicans. The day I come across him, I’m going to spit in his face! I’m going to tell him to go fuck himself. I’m going to tell him everything no one has ever told him in his damn life.” – Vicente Fernández

BOOM. Not sure if they have had a face-off yet, but there’s time.

Vicente’s 51 year career has earned him 3 Grammy Awards, 8 Latin Grammy Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and he has sold over 50 million records worldwide. That makes him one of the top-selling Mexican artists of all time. Google is backing us up here…

Felicidaes y gracias to Benjamin Bratt for channeling the heart and soul of Mexican music into Ernesto De La Cruz! It is clear in his performance that he used the musical and personality stylings of these 3 icons and in the process created another real Mexican icon…EDLC! VIVA MÉXICO!!!

Coco to date has grossed over $807 million making it the 15th highest grossing animated film ever made and was the first feature film with an all Latino cast. It was originally titled Day of the Dead, but was changed to Coco, which is the name of Miguel’s grandmother in the movie. The film won two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and one for…you guessed it…Best Original Song, “Remember Me”.

Coco 2: Return To the Land Of the Living – Slated to hit theaters in the US October/November 2020!! Olé! #NoSpoilersHere

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Are you looking for more inspiration from México? Check out the TexMex Fun Stuff Blog for more sights, sounds and badass-ness uncovered while exploring México searching for handmade fun stuff for you!

My Story / The Actual History of Papel Picado Flags

Sombreros…Shading Muchachos for Over 500 Years!

What is the Deal With These Badass Mariachis?

Cinco de Mayo, the USA Holiday Sponsored by Margaritas and Cervezas

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Sombreros…Shading Muchachos for Over 500 Years!

Posted on June 20, 2019June 23, 2019 by Allison Nevins

Allison Nevins of TexMex Fun Stuff shopping for sombreros in the Mexican market in Puerto Vallarta.

I’ll be honest. I freaking loved Speedy Gonzales as a kid with that “Arriba, Arriba, Andale, Andale” shit! Little mouse with a big ass hat that he never lost even when he was zooming around at 100 km/hr. He was my first introduction to rodents, Mexican culture, Spanish slogans, hot nasty badass speed and of course, Sombreros.

Big hat for a little fella! Andale, Bitches!! I Photo: 3Pas Studios and Warner Bros., Inc.

Speedy was a cutie and all, but the history of Sombreros in México goes back over 500 years and is steeped in tradition, functionality and rebellion. Sombreros are those wide brimmed hats made of straw, felt or velvet that are now an icon of Mexican culture. For reals, you show up at any party, wedding or funeral wearing a Sombrero and you’ve just turned it into a full-blown fiesta.

Seriously, this bar in Mérida gave me and my muchacho these Sombreros and instantly shit went wheels off! I Photo: TexMex Fun Stuff

The word Sombrero is derived from the Spanish word for shade which is ‘sombra’. The direct translation for El Sombrero then is…’The Shadower’. See there?!

There are three different countries/people claiming to have invented this sun-defying Mexican symbol of bad-assery. The only consistency between these 3 possible backstories is that the Sombrero was made for one specific function: to shade the person wearing it from the intense heat of the sun.

Mongolians, Spaniards and Mestizo Cowboys all claim to have invented the Mexican Sombrero.

CLAIM #1 – LAMENESS ALERT – The first people to declare that they invented the Sombrero were the Mongolians back in the 1200’s. Most Mongolians were horse riders…shepherds or nomads or both. So OK, I get that they needed wide brimmed hats prior to the invention of Coppertone, but let’s take a look at what they are claiming.

Back in the day the Mongolians had some crazy ass hats. Some were wide brimmed and most were completely out of hand pointy, but I’m going to go ahead and strike their claim from the record. Seriously take a look at these examples…they’re not even close to the Sombrero fantastic-ness we all love today!

Different Mongolian hats and current day Mongolians wearing the closest they can get to a Sombrero. Hmph.
I Photos: Alamy.com and UNESCO.org

CLAIM #2 – The Spaniards (as per usual) are much more likely “founders” of the Sombrero. Allegedly in 1400’s Spain, elite men wore Sombreros made of plush felt while the peasants’ Sombreros were made of straw. When the Spanish invaded Mexico in the 1600’s, they brought along their wide-ish brimmed hats. You are going to hear from HistoryofHats.com right now because they know what they’re talking about…

“Even as far as 17th century, people from Spain used to wear hats called ‘Sombrero cordobés‘ (translated as ‘wide-brimmed hat’), a traditional hat from the Spanish territories of Córdoba and Andalusia. This hat is defined by the flat crown that is between 10-12cm high, and a relatively short and perfectly flat brim that can be 8-12 cm wide. It is believed that the Mexican Sombrero was created after Spanish immigrants brought Sombrero cordobés to the New World.” – HistoryofHats.com

Here is a pic of a Spanish 1800’s-ish model with a “Cordovan” (sombrero codobés) and Madonna in 1980-ish with a Cordovan on her ‘La Isla Bonita’ album cover…

“I fell in love with San Cordovan…” Just kidding. Notice the same hat and teeth though. Only difference is the chin strap I Photos: Córdoba Buenas Noticias and Sire/Warner Records

CLAIM #3 – REALITY ALERT – Mestizo (People of European and Mexican Indigenous mixed decent) farmers and ranch hands from central México came up with Sombreros. The hats they wore were made out of straw and were wide enough for everyone in the fields to protect their head AND shoulders from the sun. That’s how big they were. These hats also had upturned rims that would deflect water while trotting around the mesa, herding cattle or whatevs. HistoryofHats.com has this explanation…

“Sombrero hats were created out of necessity in the early history of the Mexican culture. Faced with the strong sun during an entire year, both native residents of Central America and European immigrants who started settling it during the 17th century and later, quickly strived to find easy ways to provide protection against sun and elements in the territories that were then considered as very desolate, harsh and hard to work in. One of the most popular solutions for protection of the sun were hats imported from Europe, but they were viewed as insufficient against strong Mexican sun, especially for workers who had to stay outside during an entire day. Mexican natives and immigrants soon started building hats with wider and wider brims, and those hats quickly became an iconic clothing accessory for the whole nation.” – HistoryofHats.com

Boy and Girl Resting with Somberos — You’ve seen these iconic Mexicans resting under their Sombreros many times…Now you see why… I Photo: TexMex Fun Stuff

Now For the Rebellion Part

Allison Nevins with a Zapata Sombrero. — Adding a little Serape to a Zapata Sombrero is a nice touch! Only $25 USD at the Mercado de Artesanias in Puerto Vallarta I Photo: TexMex Fun Stuff

Straw sombreros with a wide upturned brim and a pointed top were made famous by Emiliano Zapata in the late 1800’s. Viva México! Zapata was a prominent leader in the peasant revolt of the Mexican Revolution. Prior to the revolt he was a farmer, a rodeo bad ass and an agricultural entrepreneur from the state of Morelos. To say the least, he knew a thing or two about headwear for long days in the sun. His preference for the super wide, straw, pointy-topped style charro hat led everyone in México to just start calling that style ‘The Zapata’.

General EZ, himself. I Photo: Archivo General de la Nación, Mexico City. Archivo Fotográfico Díaz, Delgado y García

From Wikipedia: “General Zapata’s dress until his death was a charro outfit: tight-fitting black cashmere pants with silver buttons, a broad charro hat, a fine linen shirt or jacket, a scarf around his neck, boots of a single piece, Amozoqueña-style spurs, and a pistol at his belt.”

Charros?

Allison Nevins and real mercado sombreros. — Felt Charro Sombreros o’plenty | Photo TexMex Fun Stuff

We just mentioned ‘charro’ three times. What the hell are ‘charro’ hats and outfits, you ask? Charros are cowboys. Simple. Charro hats and outfits are just the style of cowboy/ranch hand headwear and clothing. Charro beans are cowboy style beans…but that’s another story.

So whether the Spanish brought the Sombrero to México or today’s version really began with central Mexican farm folk, Sombreros have been kicked up several notches in creativity, function and style thanks to the Mariachis and Charros of Guadalajara. Together they are credited with enlarging and bedazzling the shit out of this already big hat and making it a true symbol of Mexico.

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Charros / Mariachis know how to ROCK the Sombrero.

The Charros of Guadalajara were the first to create the hat that pretty much everyone envisions when they think of Mexican Sombreros. They were the horsemen relying on the Sombrero to protect them from the sun while adding a little bad-assery to their wardrobe. However, the Mariachis of Guadalajara are ultimately responsible for going really over the top with this awesome headpiece. We’re talking elaborate, colorful, decorated shit, here. Rhinestone cowboy stuff.

The outfits that Mariachis wear today are actually called Charro Suits and any self-respecting Mariachi never leaves home without his/her Sombrero. To keep them from blowing off in the wind or while they are rocking out, they tighten up the ‘borboquejo’, which is Spanish for chin strap.

You can find Charro and Zapata style Sombreros for sale in most mercados (markets) throughout México. The picture above is me causing trouble in the Mercado Municipal Rio Cuale in Puerto Vallarta. I bought this fancy pink Charro Sombrero for about $20 USD. I think they just wanted me to leave. Wait, no…they definitely wanted me to leave.

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Sombreros are still handmade in México

This video is in English and it’s awesome so watch it, yo. That way we don’t have to type everything they say 😉

Salazar Yepez Sombrero Company | Video: DSC Documentaries

Sombreros are still crafted by hand today, but there are subtle differences in their design that showcase the level of artistry and inevitably impact the price. My $20 USD pink bejeweled beauty was made by the Pigalle Sombrero Company and combines pre-cut patterns that are glued onto the brim with hand sewn threading that weaves the patterns across the top and bottom. Sombreros are commonly emblazoned with beads, sequins, thread, sparkles and other flashy decorative elements.

I’ve been traveling through México for years and have found that most types of arts/crafts are known for coming from certain towns. Examples are Taxco for sterling silver, San Salvador Huixcolotla for papel picado, León for leather and Tultepec for fireworks. Sombrero artists/manufacturers aren’t located in a specific city, but more of a region throughout the states of Jalisco (hence the Guadalajara connection) and Guanajuato.

The story behind the Mexican Hat Dance will make you fall in love.

The Mexican Hat Dance statute in Puerto Vallarta. — “Vallarta Dancers” on the Malecón in Puerto Vallarta by Jim Demetro (2006) | Photo TexMex Fun Stuff

The Mexican Hat Dance (Jarape Tapatío) is the story of a young man trying to gain the attention of a beautiful girl. In an act of pride and commitment, he throws the most valuable thing he owns to the ground as a symbol of his love to her. In front of her feet laid his Sombrero.

She is so overcome by his romantic gesture that the two engage in a dance of courtship around the Sombrero. The Jarape Tapatió evolved into a Mexican folk dance which is now known as the National Dance of México. To keep with the tradition of the young couple, the dancers do not touch while dancing, allowing the Sombrero on the ground between the two…to keep them at a good safe/virginal distance.

As the song and dance conclude, the woman picks up the Sombrero and the couple disappears behind it for a few moments leaving the crowd to wonder how much tongue is going on behind the two foot wide kissing booth.

And by the way, Tapatió is the word used for a native of Guadalajara…so we have to presume that this couple and resulting tradition is originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco. That and tequila…Ayayayay!

Our not-so-speedy Deuce, rocking the child size (small) Sombrero – velvet, of course! Nothing but the best!!
Chin strap is working pretty hard, though. Ayayayay! I Photo: TexMex Fun Stuff

Now that you have decided that you need one for yourself or a bad ass dog, here’s some ballpark pricing…Deuce is currently showing off a colorful, child-size velvet bedazzled wonder that we bought for around $12 USD at the PV mercado. Now all we have to do is convince him that wearing it is a good idea! Arriba, Arriba, Deuce!!! Andale, Andale!!!