Secrets of a Mariachi Violinist

D.R. Ransdell would have never guessed that nostalgia for living in Durango, Mexico, would lead her to join a mariachi band in Tucson, Arizona. Nor would she have guessed that learning by ear could be such a devilish challenge or that the standard mariachi repertoire started with a list of a hundred songs. Despite scheming rivals and flirtatious compadres, Ransdell persevered. She participated in stage performances and rowdy house parties while learning one riff after another. In her musical memoir, the former Illinoisan recounts unforgettable evenings at El Mariachi Restaurant as well as private gigs and corporate events gone way wrong.

Once her group disbanded, Ransdell had to reinvent her musical self. She describes the ego-shattering process of taking lessons and relearning to read music. She shares her musical aspirations but also speaks candidly of hardships along the way. Her memoir is a love song to the world of musical performance. The anecdotes, all truthful in nature though protective of the guilty, point out challenges but highlight rewards. She triggers empathy as well as laughter from music lovers as well as musicians, whether they play on stage or in their backyards.