Mazz
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 in Brownsville, Texas, United States |
| Founder | Joe López, Jimmy González |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Brownsville , United States |
| Products | Tejano music albums |
Mazz () was a prominent American Tejano group established in 1978 in Brownsville, Texas by Joe López and Jimmy González. The band became well-known for their pioneering fusion of cumbia and ranchera styles. After securing a contract with Capitol/EMI Latin in 1989, Mazz rose to prominence as one of the foremost Tejano ensembles during the genre’s flourishing period in the 1990s.
The group dissolved in 1998, leading López and González to embark on individual musical ventures: Joe López y la Nueva Imagen Mazz (2001, EMI Latin) and Jimmy González y Grupo Mazz (1999, Freddie Records).
In 2006, López was convicted of sexually abusing his niece and subsequently incarcerated. Following his release in 2018, he formed Joe López y Grupo Mazz, continuing his career as a songwriter, recording artist, and performer.
Before Mazz
Born just minutes apart on August 28, 1950, in Brownsville, Texas, Joe López and Jimmy González forged a friendship at age seven. In June 1977, González persuaded keyboardist Noe Garcia to join him and López in forming a band. They waited until Garcia completed college in May 1978 before officially launching the group. Drummer Adolfo Garcia was recruited by Juan Murillo to replace Daniel López from the disbanded group Something Easy.
Originally named "Mass" in November 1977, the band soon altered the spelling to "Mazz," drawing inspiration from the logo style of rock band Kiss. González explained that the double 'z' also echoed his surname.
Mazz (1978-1998)
Mazz is recognized for pioneering synthesizer use within Tejano music, incorporating synths prior to 1977. A mid-1980s promotional partnership with Coors broadened their reach, facilitating tours throughout Florida, California, and the Southwestern United States. Their catalog featured compositions by award-winning songwriter Luis Silva, who penned hits such as "Laura Ya No Vive Aquí" and "Borraré Tu Nombre." Their inaugural live performance occurred in San Antonio in 1983; González recalled that audiences already knew their songs by then. The band garnered numerous honors at the Tejano Music Awards, including Single of the Year and Best Tejano Album. By 1986, they had sold 50,000 copies and ranked among the top-selling Tejano artists. Dubbed the "Bad Boys of Brownsville" due to their partying lifestyle and habitual tardiness, González embraced this rebellious persona as part of their image. Their single "Laura Ya No Vive Aqui" reached number one on Billboard Latin charts in March 1987. The 1987 album Beyond earned Album of the Year at the 1988 Tejano Music Awards; Lopez and Gonzalez also won Vocal Duo of the Year.
In 1988, Mazz signed with CBS Records, releasing Straight from the Heart (1989), before transitioning to EMI Latin in 1990. At the 1990 Tejano Music Awards, they secured Songwriter of the Year (Lopez), Vocal Duo of the Year, and Song of the Year for "Now I Want You to Love Me." Their album No Te Olvidare (1990) topped Billboard's Regional Mexican Albums chart and was certified gold by EMI Latin for sales exceeding 50,000 units; by July that year, U.S. sales reached 75,000. From 1991 onward, Mazz performed at RodeoHouston annually for fourteen years.
EMI Latin acquired Cara Records in 1990, thereby assuming Mazz’s contract.
In April 1994, controversy arose when marijuana was found on Mazz’s bus driver at a checkpoint; nevertheless, band members maintained clean reputations consistent with González’s firm anti-drug stance.
The 1997 album Al Frente de Todos received mixed critical responses and was not made available on streaming services by EMI Latin. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times praised it but noted a lack of innovation. The record included "Pa Que Sepas," a ranchera single that enjoyed significant radio airplay, along with a live cumbia rendition of "Micaela," which improved upon its earlier mariachi version. During a September 1997 concert in San Antonio, Mazz made a dramatic entrance arriving in five limousines escorted by police motorcycles; however, key members remained backstage.
In March 1998, Mazz produced Margarita, debut album of Freddy Fender’s niece Margarita Huerta, who had previously opened for them. Later that year saw release of their final album Cuántas Veces, which was better received than preceding efforts; notable tracks included the title song and "Ojos Querendones," later featured on their 2006 live reunion album.
By June 2018, albums such as No Te Olvidare, Para Nuestra Gente, Una Noche Juntos, and Mazz Romanticos Que Nunca each exceeded sales of 100,000 units.
Separation
In summer 1998, López and González parted ways professionally to lead separate bands pursuing solo careers.
"Mazz" trademark
Ownership of the "Mazz" trademark has been contested between López and González. López asserts continuous ownership while permitting González’s use during times when legal challenges were unfeasible—particularly throughout López’s imprisonment. Following his release and González's passing, López sought control over the trademark from González's widow.
On September 29, 2023, the "Forever Jimmy G." Facebook page criticized the Texas Talent Musicians Association for distributing an inaccurate email regarding Joe López's nomination for a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 5th Annual Tejano Music Awards. The message erroneously credited multiple Grammy wins (2001–2004, 2009, and 2014) to López instead of Jimmy González y Grupo Mazz—the latter two awards having been earned while López was incarcerated. Subsequently, TTMA amended López's biography to correct these inaccuracies.
As of September 1, 2025, Joe Lopez y Grupo Mazz's Instagram profile continues to falsely claim Latin Grammy victories for Best Tejano Album spanning from 2001-2004 and again in 2009.
Members
1978–1984
- Joe López – lead vocals
- Jimmy González – guitar, backing vocals
- Juan Murillo – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Hector Augusto Flores – keyboards
- Adolfo García – drums
1984–1997
- Joe López – lead vocals
- Jimmy González – vocals, guitar
- Brando Mireles – keyboards
- Tommy González – congas, saxophone
- Alfonso González – accordion
- Frankie Caballero – accordion
- Robert Chávez – bass guitar
- Mario González – bass guitar
- Adolfo García – drums
- Ricardo Barrón – percussion
- Homero Esquivel – accordion
Discography
- Mazz (Santos Records, 1978)
- Más Mazz (Santos Records, 1978)
- El (Cara, 1979)
- 1980 (Cara, 1980)
- Class (Cara, 1980)
- The Look of Mazz (Cara, 1981)
- Command Performance (Cara, 1982)
- Pesado (Cara, 1982)
- The Force (Cara, 1983)
- It's Bad! (Cara, 1984)
- Standing Ovation (It's A Killer) (Cara, 1984)
- The Bad Boys (Cara, 1985)
- Number 16 (Cara, 1985)
- La Continuación: Number 16 Part II (CBS Discos, 1986)
- Dance Your Mazz Off (CBS, 1987)
- Beyond (CBS, 1987)
- Straight From the Heart (CBS Discos, 1988)
- No Te Olvidaré (Capitol/EMI Latin, 1989)
- Para Nuestra Gente (Capitol/EMI Latin, 1990)
- Una Noche Juntos: Live (Capitol/EMI Latin, 1991)
- Lo Haré Por Ti (Capitol/EMI Latin, 1992)
- Mazz Románticos Que Nunca (EMI Latin, 1993)
- Qué Esperabas (EMI Latin, 1993)
- Regalo de Navidad (EMI Latin, 1994)
- Sólo para Ti (EMI Latin, 1995)
- Mazz Mariachi y Tradición (EMI Latin, 1996)
- Al Frente de Todos (EMI Latin, 1997)
- Cuántas Veces (EMI Latin, 1998)
Awards
For details on individual honors received by López and González, refer to their respective entries.
| Year | Work | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Most Promising Band of the Year | |
| 1986 | Number 16 | Album of the Year (Orchestra) |
| 1988 | Beyond | Album of the Year (Orchestra) |
| 1990 | "Ahora Quiero Que Me Quieras" | Song of the Year |
| 1991 | No Te Olvidaré | Album of the Year |
| "Amor con Amor" | Single of the Year | |
| "No Te Olvidaré" | Song of the Year | |
| 1993 | "Lo Voy Hacer Por Ti" | Single of the Year |
| Song of the Year | ||
| 1996 | Sólo para Ti | Album of the Year (Orchestra) |
| 1999 | Cuántas Veces | Album of the Year (Group) |
| Year | Work | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Amor con Amor" | Best Mexican-American Performance | rowspan=2 Template:Nom |
| 1992 | Para Nuestra Gente | Best Mexican-American Album |
| Year | Work | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Regional Mexican Group of the Year | rowspan=8 Template:Nom | |
| No Te Olvidaré | Regional Mexican Album of the Year | ||
| 1992 | Regional Mexican Group of the Year | ||
| Para Nuestra Gente | Regional Mexican Album of the Year | ||
| 1993 | Regional Mexican Group of the Year | ||
| 1994 | Regional Mexican Group of the Year | ||
| Lo Haré Por Ti | Regional Mexican Album of the Year |